Kirk Roda

"Treehorses", Mixed Media

2020

Delicate, frightening, otherworldly are all descriptions that apply to these sculptures by artist, Kirk Roda. "The Joke" is an exploration of pure fantasy th...

Delicate, frightening, otherworldly are all descriptions that apply to these unique sculptures by artist, Kirk Roda. "Barkbud Herd" is an exploration of pure...

Delicate, frightening, otherworldly are all descriptions that apply to these unique sculptures by artist, Kirk Roda. "Rootstone Herd" is an exploration of pu...

"Jim Jim" is an ebony carving by Tom Brun, sculptor and Detroit Zoo Keeper, who cared for the real Jim Jim at the Detroit Zoo. This ebony sculpture is in beautiful condition with slight exposure to the lighter streak of wood sometimes found in ebony. It is said that Tom would often go into a house and pick up one of his sculptures and say that it was unfriendly – meaning that it had not been handled enough. Morley Driver has said of Brun in a newspaper article from the 1950’s “In Any Animal He Sees Beauty”: No one who has ever seen a Tom Brun hippopotamus will ever again think of it as ugly or ungainly, meaning that the artist not only gives you beauty but teaches you to see it. Tom has said: “Small pieces are like a proverb – a gem of meaning that one can dissect.” They are meant to be picked up, caressed and held. Tom knew Jim Jim from birth and cared for him with love and attention. Brun was a compassionate zookeeper and advocated for less cages and more space for an animal to roam. Brun was born in England in 1913. A few years after the end of World War I his father moved the family in 1919 to Detroit, Michigan. In 1935 at age 23, he officially became a U.S. citizen. He served in the army during World War II for five years and upon discharge and at the age of 36 took advantage of the GI Bill and applied for admission to Society of Arts and Crafts (now known as the College for Creative Studies) where he was gladly accepted. While at Arts and Crafts his instructors and established artists such as Sarkis Sarkisian, John P. Foster, Morris Brose, Richard Koslow, Patricia Burnett, Lloyd and Renee Radell...

The bronze sculpture "Owl" is an exaggerated rendition of an owl that emphasizes the bird's most prominant characteristics - a big fluffy round body and large unblinking eyes making it a charicature of the bird. It is very touchable and calls for one to pet its rounded back. Tom Brun, the sculptor and zookeeper, is well-known for his wood, stone, marble, ceramics and ivory sculptures. One of them, a large hippopotamus, carved from walnut wood travelled the world in the State Department collection. It is said that Tom would often go into a house and pick up one of his sculptures and say that it was unfriendly – meaning that it had not been handled enough. Morley Driver has said of Brun in a newspaper article from the 1950’s “In Any Animal He Sees Beauty”: No one who has ever seen a Tom Brun hippopotamus will ever again think of it as ugly or ungainly, meaning that the artist not only gives you beauty but teaches you to see it. Tom has said: “Small pieces are like a proverb – a gem of meaning that one can dissect.” They are meant to be picked up, caressed and held. This owl, too, seems destined to be caressed. Brun was born in England in 1913. A few years after the end of World War I his father moved the family in 1919 to Detroit, Michigan. In 1935 at age 23, he officially became a U.S. citizen. He served in the army during World War II for five years and upon discharge and at the age of 36 took advantage of the GI Bill and applied for admission to Society of Arts and Crafts (now known as the College for Creative Studies) where he was gladly accepted. While at Arts and Crafts his instructors and established artists such as Sarkis Sarkisian, John P. Foster, Morris Brose, Richard Koslow, Patricia Burnett, Lloyd and Renee Radell...

This charming figurine from Meissen Porcelain is of a cat with a captured mouse in his mouth, seated on its haunches, its left forepaw raised to strike the mouse dangling from its mo...

Giraffe by JOSÉ JERÓNIMO single piece of art Iron sculpture with use of tools and other objects Measures: 81 x 41 x 15 cm. Private collection.

Giraffe by JOSÉ JERÓNIMO single piece of art Iron sculpture with use of tools and other objects Signed Measures: 81 x 41 x 15 cm. Private collection.

This porcelain horse wall sculpture is hand-built without the use of molds by New York artist Bethany Krull and floats peacefully in a womb-like nest of pink silk flowers.

This hand built porcelain beetle with resilient wire and epoxy clay legs hauling a wheel-thrown earthenware bowl was created by New York artist, Betha...

This beautiful wall piece is hand sculpted in porcelain and depicts the habitat of a beautiful glistening snail exploring its environment which includes towering rocks, an outstretch...

A lone ceramic frog perches atop a dirt mound covered in blooming artificial flowers. She is a beautiful captive inside her glass aquarium and she is the last of her kind...A creatu...