American Figurative Sculptures

This is an extraordinary bronze sculpture of a Classic male nude by artist Dean Kugler. Attention to detail and complete understanding of the human figure are evident. The figure stands with most of his weight on one foot, contrapposto, and his arm stretched overhead revealing a powerful, muscular physique. With inspiration from Michelangelo's unfinished series of sculptures housed at the Galleria Dell'Acadamia Museum in Florence, displayed in the hall leading to Michelangelo's David sculpture, this figure too is bound within its own material symbolizing the eternal human struggle to free themselves from material trappings. The sculpture is beautifully custom mounted on a stone base. Dean Kugler Slave (after Michelangelo) bronze Measures: 20 H x 5 W x 5 D in 50.80 H x 12.70 W x 12.70 D cm DK0035 Kugler uses scale and the juxtaposition of disparate elements in order to engage and challenge the viewer. He combines elements such as strength and weakness or beauty and damage to be experienced simultaneously within the same piece of work to create a tense energy. Kugler also incorporates the technical skill of tight rendering with the dynamism of abstraction to create this energy to add additional excitement and intrigue to his aesthetic.   Dean Kugler is a seasoned interdisciplinary artist, painter, and figurative sculptor. His 3D work is featured primarily at Gallery Victor Armendariz in Chicago. In the last three years, Dean has also been featured at Abend Gallery in Denver, The Figge Art Museum, and Bereskin Gallery in Iowa. He has shown at SOFA Chicago in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and participated in ArtPrize in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He sees himself primarily as a sculptor due to the challenges he finds and thrives on within the process. In all its beauty, crudeness, and subtleties, the figure offers infinite opportunities to express feelings and emotions. There is also a physicality to sculpture that requires the work to be experienced through movement in order to reveal more about the piece. Dean has always been drawn to the interactive nature of large-scale sculpture that is available to the public - he loves the idea that his work entices the observer to go beyond what they can see and add tactility to the experience. By using both realism and abstraction, he creates a visual that challenges the viewer to resolve what they are seeing. Therefore, providing a greater connection between the artist and the viewer. Education 1993 – AA from Blackhawk College. 1995 – BFA from Western Illinois University. Texts 1995 – “Drawing: Skills, Means, Freedom”. Jan Clough / Ann Mullin. pub. 1995. 1993 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. 1992 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. Bibliography Dec 2022 - American Art Collector. “Room to grow”. Pages 48 and 49. 1 Oct 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article discussing a group show titled “Earth, Wind, and Fire” at Bereskin Gallery. 18 Aug 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article by Mike Schulz about my show titled “Relic” at the Quad City Arts. 1 Nov 2017 – Dispatch-Argus and QCOnline, Coverage of my showing at SOFA. 16 Dec 2016 – River Cities Reader. Article by Rick Martin about one-man art show titled “It Figures” at Black Hawk...

Gigantic baby bottle made in the 1970s. Hard plastic bottle with removable top and rubber nipple. Yellow bottle with ounces on one side and milliliters on ...

Buffalo overlaid with turquoise and other stones. Plains and woodland scenes on the side. One of a kind. Period: Contemporary Origin: Southwest Size: 8" x 8". Family Owned & Oper...

Hand beaded grape ornament made of vintage and contemporary glass beads in vibrant colorations. Neon yellow grapes beaded on foam and cork bases with rasbe...

Keith Simpson has made these types of ceramic vehicles intermittently over the past years. He likes to make the underdog car models. Keith says, "They are like the cars that you migh...