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Scott Gordon, Tortoise, 2020

$9,500
£7,295.09
€8,368.61
CA$13,348.61
A$14,949.61
CHF 7,800.46
MX$182,603.01
NOK 99,244.54
SEK 93,549.88
DKK 62,453.94

About the Item

Tortoise welded steel, found objects 17 x 10 x 4 in. In Tortoise, Scott Gordon evokes the steady, grounded presence of its namesake through an abstracted, almost calligraphic form. An arched upper element suggests a protective shell or bowed spine, while the disc below functions as both weight and wheel—a nod to endurance through slow, deliberate movement. A horizontal rod pierces the composition, adding tension and balance, like a tether between stillness and progress.Rooted in symbolic geometry, the piece feels both ancient and mechanical—part ritual object, part mythic creature. Tortoise becomes a quiet metaphor for resilience, self-containment, and the contemplative pace of survival in a restless world. Artist StatementI I work with materials that have already lived a life — steel that’s rusted, bent, scarred. These imperfections hold a kind of quiet beauty, one that speaks not of utility but of presence. Though my work sometimes carries figurative echoes, I’m drawn to the non-figurative: the essential, the raw. Steel, once loud and forceful in its industrial context, becomes still and intimate in this new form.Each composition emerges through direct interaction with found parts. I rarely alter the materials beyond what is necessary. Instead, I allow them to dictate form — interlocking, balancing, and aligning until their relationship feels complete. The process is intuitive, the engineering elemental.Art, for me, is a spiritual act — a practice of selflessness and stillness. It doesn't seek acclaim or commercial appeal. It simply exists, honest and sacred. Biography Scott Gordon (b. 1966, Ridgewood, NJ) lives and works in Vermont. He studied business at the University of Denver and earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Washington. During his time in Seattle, he worked at David Gulassa Company, a fabrication shop specializing in custom furniture and architectural fixtures. There, he began sculpting with scrap metal salvaged from the studio and surrounding industrial zones — material that continues to define his practice.Gordon’s work reflects a deep respect for process, material memory, and the integrity of form. Influenced by artists such as David Smith, Anthony Caro, and Richard Stankiewicz, his sculptures explore the tension between strength and stillness, construction and poetry.
  • Creator:
    Scott Gordon (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Steel,Welded
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    2020
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. The art is made from found steel parts which show rust, scratches, and other defects. The work is recent though.
  • Seller Location:
    Sharon, VT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3405318125072

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Scott Gordon, MAN, 2020
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Man welded steel, found objects 24 x 5 x 4.5 in. In Man, Scott Gordon distills masculinity into a singular, vertical gesture—spare, elon...
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Scott Gordon, Monument, 2020
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Monument welded steel, found objects 20.5 x 16 x 4 in. Monument stands as a stark, enigmatic structure—part signal, part shrine. With its twin-columned base and vertical shaft crowned by a cantilevered horizontal arm, the piece recalls ancient markers or industrial relics repurposed for reverence. The form is at once rigid and reaching, grounded yet gestural.Its silhouette suggests a memorial to unseen histories—a tribute to labor, endurance, or forgotten architectures. The off-center balance and weathered presence give it a sense of quiet authority, as though it were a relic unearthed from a future past.With minimalist economy and ritual poise, Monument invites contemplation on permanence, presence, and the symbols we choose to elevate. Artist Statement I work with materials that have already lived a life — steel that’s rusted, bent, scarred. These imperfections hold a kind of quiet beauty, one that speaks not of utility but of presence. Though my work sometimes carries figurative echoes, I’m drawn to the non-figurative: the essential, the raw. Steel, once loud and forceful in its industrial context, becomes still and intimate in this new form.Each composition emerges through direct interaction with found parts. I rarely alter the materials beyond what is necessary. Instead, I allow them to dictate form — interlocking, balancing, and aligning until their relationship feels complete. The process is intuitive, the engineering elemental.Art, for me, is a spiritual act — a practice of selflessness and stillness. It doesn't seek acclaim or commercial appeal. It simply exists, honest and sacred. Biography Scott Gordon...
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Scott Gordon, Odyssey, 2021
By Scott Gordon
Located in Sharon, VT
Odyssey welded steel Measures: 18.5 x 19 x 18 in. Rooted in industrial materiality and abstract expression, Odyssey invites the viewer into a narrative of motion and emergence. A spiraling steel ribbon unfurls around a central, columnar form—ribbed and machined with mechanical precision—suggesting a journey inward or upward. A sharp, angular plane rises nearby like a sentinel or waypoint, introducing tension and verticality. The contrast of machined and hand-forged surfaces echoes the balance between human intention and mechanical force. With a commanding presence on its rough-edged steel base, Odyssey reflects on structure, evolution, and the persistence of form through time. Artist statement: I seldom use stock material, but prefer distressed and rusted steel that has been scarred, bent, and made imperfect. In this state, the material becomes quite beautiful. There are figurative elements in my work, though I am more drawn to the non-figurative, to the raw and essential aspect of steel. The Industrial purpose of steel must be considered, its use in construction, manufacturing, the military. Steel is forged with enormous energy and power. The process is violent, loud. Here, it is still and approachable. The compositions are constructed mainly from found parts. Their relationships manifest as I interact with the material. The pieces interlock, balance, and become fitted before I fasten or weld them together. The engineering is elemental. Altering the material is avoided. The number of parts kept to a minimum. Art is my spiritual exercise, my selflessness. It identifies me as a creator and satisfies my human longing for place and purpose. It needs not to be great, or preeminent, or commercial. Art speaks because it is Primitive. It exists because it is sacred. Biography: Scott Gordon was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey in 1966. He attended the University of Denver where he studied business and the University of Washington where he pursued an MFA in creative writing. While he was in Seattle, he was introduced to steel as an employee of the David Gulassa...
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Scott Gordon, Venus, 2021
By Scott Gordon
Located in Sharon, VT
Venus welded steel Measures: 12-1/2 x 17-1/2-37 in. This vertical steel sculpture presents a commanding, almost anthropomorphic figure, assembled from industrial components and softened by age-worn patina. A central oval form anchors the piece—suggesting a torso—while angular extensions imply limbs or mechanical appendages. The upward-reaching element at the top introduces a sense of gesture or alertness, reinforcing the piece’s totemic quality. Sturdy yet expressive, the work balances raw materiality with suggestive figuration. Its posture hints at motion held in pause, evoking associations with tools, guardians, or relics of an unknown past. Artist Statement I work with materials that have already lived a life — steel that’s rusted, bent, scarred. These imperfections hold a kind of quiet beauty, one that speaks not of utility but of presence. Though my work sometimes carries figurative echoes, I’m drawn to the non-figurative: the essential, the raw. Steel, once loud and forceful in its industrial context, becomes still and intimate in this new form. Each composition emerges through direct interaction with found parts. I rarely alter the materials beyond what is necessary. Instead, I allow them to dictate form — interlocking, balancing, and aligning until their relationship feels complete. The process is intuitive, the engineering elemental. Art, for me, is a spiritual act — a practice of selflessness and stillness. It doesn't seek acclaim or commercial appeal. It simply exists, honest and sacred. Biography Scott Gordon (b. 1966, Ridgewood, NJ) lives and works in Vermont. He studied business at the University of Denver and earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Washington. During his time in Seattle, he worked at David Gulassa...
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Contemporary Abstract Welded Steel Sculpture by Scott Gordon (Charlie, 2018)
By Scott Gordon
Located in Sharon, VT
Charlie steel, found object 26.5 x 17 x 9 in. Charlie presents a posture that feels at once upright and uncertain. A forked structure rises from a weighted base, supporting a single...
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Scott Gordon, Woman, 2020
By Scott Gordon
Located in Sharon, VT
Woman welded steel, found objects 13 x 5 x 5 in. With Woman, Scott Gordon channels the archetypal feminine through a language of raw for...
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