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John Denning
Philosopher bronze sculpture

$16,500
£12,324.71
€14,288.54
CA$22,909.84
A$25,678.98
CHF 13,370.29
MX$313,551.32
NOK 169,754.11
SEK 160,911.63
DKK 106,607.95
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About the Item

A recurring theme in John Denning’s art (both painting and sculpture) has been combining human figures with birds or horses. The bird in the freestanding bronze sculpture "Philosopher," however, sits alone, lying on its back on a tall, narrow perch. What is also new here is the introduction of an abstract form balanced on the animal's beak, creating a tension as well as whimsy, and allowing the viewer to participate by turning and repositioning the form. Edition number 3 of 9 was just cast in 2021 and is now available. Each patina in the edition is unique, and #3/9 has a rich, dark patina as shown in the first three images. The fourth image shows the first cast in the edition, finished with a light patina, installed in a California garden. John Denning became fascinated by the human figure during his days as a student at the Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles. His background in the arts is rooted in painting and drawing, with a particular exploration of watercolor. The work of Nathan Olivera, Richard Diebenkorn, and Francis Bacon served as inspiration in the two-dimensional medium, while sculptors such as Manuel Neri and Stephen De Staebler began to emerge as gateways to the third dimension. Denning's sculptural figures, often female, oscillate in time and space as they simultaneously appear to be emerging and withdrawing in ruin.
  • Creator:
    John Denning (American)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 58 in (147.32 cm)Width: 41 in (104.14 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Glen Ellen, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU7128465372

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