Many artists have been captivated by movement art throughout the ages. The concept has become more prevalent in modern society because of new technologies that help artists design faster and easier.
What is Kinetic Art?
Kinetic art is related to motion. It has its foundation in Dada or Dadaism (an art movement created as a response to capitalism, nationalism, and corrupt politics in 1916) and Constructivism. Both these movements established a new way of creating art. The iconic “Bicycle Wheel” sculpture by Marcel Duchamp is credited as the first kinetic work of art.
From the beginning of the 20th century, many artists began incorporating movement in their creations. This resulted in Kinetic Art becoming mainstream. Over the years, many Kinetic Art Sculptors have created brilliant pieces of work. By presenting moving works of art, these Kinetic artists have given us some of the most beautiful pieces representing the merging of art, nature and technology.
Today I chose to recognize some of the most prolific Kinetic Wind Sculptors globally by briefly discussing their careers.
Anthony Howe
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Anthony Howe has developed mesmerizing sculptures for years. Despite weighing hundreds of pounds, his towering kinetic creations move gracefully with the wind in a hypnotic motion. His signature creations resemble mystical four-legged creatures that twist and turn with the slighted breeze.
His entry into kinetic art was a slow journey ignited from a part-time job erecting steel shelving for storage after he abandoned painting. His most notable creations include the Brazil Rio Olympics cauldrons. He has sold hundreds of sculptures, and his work has been showcased around the world.
George Rickey
George Rickey (1907-2002) is famous for his larger-than-life stainless steel kinetic sculptures that use air currents. Before delving into the kinetic sculpture world, he was a painter and worked as an engineer during WWII. When he was introduced to Alexander Calder’s mobiles, his love for sculpting was born.
Eventually, he eliminated colour and organic shapes in his works in favour of smooth geometric objects that drew focus on movement. His works have been exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, Documenta III in Kassel, and several public spaces globally.
Alexander Calder
Born in 1898, Alexander Calder has pieces across the world. A pioneer in his field, he is recognized as one of the originators of the mobile. In 1931 Calder created his first kinetic work, which used a system of cranks and motors for movement. He abandoned the mechanized system in favour of mobiles that relied on air currents for movement.
His work was primarily abstract, but he did enjoy fashioning sculptures that resembled animals occasionally.
Will Carr
Will Carr derives his inspiration from the elements that exist in our current environment. His sculptures explore the relationship between geometry and form within their environment. The sculptures are designed to capture the natural flow and balance of our world.
Most of his work is abstract, and he uses stainless and weathered steel to create large-scale pieces of art that respond to gentle nudges from the wind. The effect is hypnotic and perfectly explains why his work is very popular at sculpture exhibitions.
Jeff Kahn
Jeff Kahn was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1954; he began working as a jeweller in 1971. Between 1976 and 1980, he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, where he continued his work in jewellery. However, he also dipped his toes in furniture design and experimental sculpture.
His interest in sculpture allowed him to explore different methods using wood, metal, glass, and electronics. In 1984 he began designing sculptures that relied on computers for movement. Eventually, this led him to creating large kinetic wind pieces.
Jeffery Laudenslager
Jeffery Laudenslager has been nicknamed a master kinetic illusionist. His work is known to trick the mind into seeing movement even when there is none. He relies on the principles of geometry to achieve this illusion.
His work has often been compared to that of George Rickey. However, the movement in his kinetic sculptures is cited as more unpredictable than Rickey’s. His sculptures are known to respond to the wind at different speeds with a slow, graceful return to stillness. The effect is both mesmerizing and surprising.
Phil Price
Since 2000 Phil Price has focused his work on developing kinetic wind sculptures. His work is recognized for its magnificent beauty and integration with the natural world. He uses carbon fibre composite construction in his extraordinary designs.
All his work is developed in-house using drawings that are then computer-generated into digital copies before finally coming to life as kinetic wind sculptures. His designs can withstand extreme weather conditions and have been purchased throughout the globe. His sculptures can be found in several collections worldwide.
Lyman Whitaker
Lyman Whitaker is an American sculptor with over 50 years in the industry. He has spent 30 years focusing on kinetic wind sculptures that he produces by hand. His works vary from large to small-scale sculptures.
He has a love for metal, design, and nature, and these form the foundation of his unique works of art. Like Will Carr, he hopes to invoke harmony between his work and nature. Each sculpture is created with this balance in mind, offering a soothing yet captivating impression. His work can be seen in collections at SeaWorld, Disney World, the Dallas Arboretum, and several private collectors worldwide.
Ivan Black
Ivan Black was born in London in 1972. His passion for sculpture began when he was young, and the concept of movement soon became central to his creations.
He spent many years learning various skills that he would use in creating his kinetic wind sculptures. His inspiration comes from nature, science, and technology, and he uses these influences to create sculptures that transform upon the introduction of energy. His work is exhibited in galleries and sculpture parks internationally.
Theo Jansen
Theo Jansen’s work is a unique form of kinetic wind sculpture that he began working on in 1990. His most famous work is the strandbeests, which are skeletons made using Dutch electricity pipes. The sculptures can “walk” using energy from the wind.
His work on the strandbeests has evolved over the years, and he divides each phase into 12 periods of evolution. His goal with this idea is to understand nature through the eyes of the Creator.
Alfonso
Alfonso’s work is unique because his focus is not just on the wind as a movement source. He has tried to push the boundaries of static forms of art by using other forms of energy like water and light since 1980.
In 1999 he focused on designing large kinetic and light sculptures for public spaces in the US and Europe. He is co-founder and president of the Kinetic Art Organization, which has over 1,000 members and has a presence in over 60 countries.
What is Kinetic Art?
Kinetic art is related to motion. It has its foundation in Dada or Dadaism (an art movement created as a response to capitalism, nationalism, and corrupt politics in 1916) and Constructivism. Both these movements established a new way of creating art. The iconic “Bicycle Wheel” sculpture by Marcel Duchamp is credited as the first kinetic work of art.
From the beginning of the 20th century, many artists began incorporating movement in their creations. This resulted in Kinetic Art becoming mainstream. Over the years, many Kinetic Art Sculptors have created brilliant pieces of work. By presenting moving works of art, these Kinetic artists have given us some of the most beautiful pieces representing the merging of art, nature and technology.
Today I chose to recognize some of the most prolific Kinetic Wind Sculptors globally by briefly discussing their careers.
Anthony Howe
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Anthony Howe has developed mesmerizing sculptures for years. Despite weighing hundreds of pounds, his towering kinetic creations move gracefully with the wind in a hypnotic motion. His signature creations resemble mystical four-legged creatures that twist and turn with the slighted breeze.
His entry into kinetic art was a slow journey ignited from a part-time job erecting steel shelving for storage after he abandoned painting. His most notable creations include the Brazil Rio Olympics cauldrons. He has sold hundreds of sculptures, and his work has been showcased around the world.
George Rickey
George Rickey (1907-2002) is famous for his larger-than-life stainless steel kinetic sculptures that use air currents. Before delving into the kinetic sculpture world, he was a painter and worked as an engineer during WWII. When he was introduced to Alexander Calder’s mobiles, his love for sculpting was born.
Eventually, he eliminated colour and organic shapes in his works in favour of smooth geometric objects that drew focus on movement. His works have been exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, Documenta III in Kassel, and several public spaces globally.
Alexander Calder
Born in 1898, Alexander Calder has pieces across the world. A pioneer in his field, he is recognized as one of the originators of the mobile. In 1931 Calder created his first kinetic work, which used a system of cranks and motors for movement. He abandoned the mechanized system in favour of mobiles that relied on air currents for movement.
His work was primarily abstract, but he did enjoy fashioning sculptures that resembled animals occasionally.
Will Carr
Will Carr derives his inspiration from the elements that exist in our current environment. His sculptures explore the relationship between geometry and form within their environment. The sculptures are designed to capture the natural flow and balance of our world.
Most of his work is abstract, and he uses stainless and weathered steel to create large-scale pieces of art that respond to gentle nudges from the wind. The effect is hypnotic and perfectly explains why his work is very popular at sculpture exhibitions.
Jeff Kahn
Jeff Kahn was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1954; he began working as a jeweller in 1971. Between 1976 and 1980, he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, where he continued his work in jewellery. However, he also dipped his toes in furniture design and experimental sculpture.
His interest in sculpture allowed him to explore different methods using wood, metal, glass, and electronics. In 1984 he began designing sculptures that relied on computers for movement. Eventually, this led him to creating large kinetic wind pieces.
Jeffery Laudenslager
Jeffery Laudenslager has been nicknamed a master kinetic illusionist. His work is known to trick the mind into seeing movement even when there is none. He relies on the principles of geometry to achieve this illusion.
His work has often been compared to that of George Rickey. However, the movement in his kinetic sculptures is cited as more unpredictable than Rickey’s. His sculptures are known to respond to the wind at different speeds with a slow, graceful return to stillness. The effect is both mesmerizing and surprising.
Phil Price
Since 2000 Phil Price has focused his work on developing kinetic wind sculptures. His work is recognized for its magnificent beauty and integration with the natural world. He uses carbon fibre composite construction in his extraordinary designs.
All his work is developed in-house using drawings that are then computer-generated into digital copies before finally coming to life as kinetic wind sculptures. His designs can withstand extreme weather conditions and have been purchased throughout the globe. His sculptures can be found in several collections worldwide.
Lyman Whitaker
Lyman Whitaker is an American sculptor with over 50 years in the industry. He has spent 30 years focusing on kinetic wind sculptures that he produces by hand. His works vary from large to small-scale sculptures.
He has a love for metal, design, and nature, and these form the foundation of his unique works of art. Like Will Carr, he hopes to invoke harmony between his work and nature. Each sculpture is created with this balance in mind, offering a soothing yet captivating impression. His work can be seen in collections at SeaWorld, Disney World, the Dallas Arboretum, and several private collectors worldwide.
Ivan Black
Ivan Black was born in London in 1972. His passion for sculpture began when he was young, and the concept of movement soon became central to his creations.
He spent many years learning various skills that he would use in creating his kinetic wind sculptures. His inspiration comes from nature, science, and technology, and he uses these influences to create sculptures that transform upon the introduction of energy. His work is exhibited in galleries and sculpture parks internationally.
Theo Jansen
Theo Jansen’s work is a unique form of kinetic wind sculpture that he began working on in 1990. His most famous work is the strandbeests, which are skeletons made using Dutch electricity pipes. The sculptures can “walk” using energy from the wind.
His work on the strandbeests has evolved over the years, and he divides each phase into 12 periods of evolution. His goal with this idea is to understand nature through the eyes of the Creator.
Alfonso
Alfonso’s work is unique because his focus is not just on the wind as a movement source. He has tried to push the boundaries of static forms of art by using other forms of energy like water and light since 1980.
In 1999 he focused on designing large kinetic and light sculptures for public spaces in the US and Europe. He is co-founder and president of the Kinetic Art Organization, which has over 1,000 members and has a presence in over 60 countries.
