Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A bold and charismatic mid-century rooster sculpture, artist made hand-hammered, forged, and wrought in solid bronze, then melt-coated with additional layers of molten bronze to create its richly textured surface. Monumental in scale—life-size or larger—this piece embodies the spirit of modernist folk Americana, merging rural iconography with the expressive force of postwar studio sculpture.
The rooster’s animated stance, raised tail, and crowing beak give it a dynamic presence that recalls Picasso’s stylized animal forms, while its weight and surface treatment nod to the work of Harry Bertoia, Paul Evans, and other makers in the 1950s brutalist tradition. Subtle reddish undertones in the tail feathers add warmth and depth to the oxidized patina.
What sets this sculpture apart is not only its material complexity and sculptural technique, but also its provenance. It comes from the estate of Virginia folk artist P. Buckley Moss...
Category
Vintage 1960s Animal Sculptures