Michael Moffett

Fountainhead (1980), Bronze Sculpture
Portable War Memorial Sculpture
Childrens War Memorial, bronze

Michael Moffett

Michael Moffett is an American Shock Artist.[1] and realistic sculptor raised in New York City and Sarasota, Florida.[1] He has spent much of his career in Cocoa Beach, Florida.[2] He is known for his two-part, life-sized, hyper-realistic sculpture of a homeless veteran in a wheelchair looking at a second sculpture of a man's torso mounted on a tiny military tank with a gun to his head titled the Portable War Memorial.[1] The piece deals with PTSD and veteran suicide.[1] Many of his bronze sculptures merge human figures and industrial machines.[3][1] His body casts of numerous human models are made with various materials, including resin and silicone.[1]

Education

In 1969, Moffett served as a Marine corp radio operator along the Ho Chi Minh Trail,[4] in Vietnam. Those combat experiences tinged much of his work. Later he attended Ringling School of Art and Design[5] in Sarasota and Palomar College[1] in California, majoring in Fine Arts before working as a professional welder in his own studio for several years.[4]

Career and Style

Around 1979, Moffett started casting in polyester resins, epoxies, and silicone rubber.[6] His hyper-realistic sculpture could be compared to Duane Hanson and John De Andrea. Many of his paintings feature strong social commentary, including satirical advertising slogans.[7]

He also formerly taught sculpture at the Maitland Art Center, Maitland, Florida, from 2018 to 2022[8]

Controversy

After being commissioned to create a bronze drinking fountain for the City of Cocoa, Florida, and the local art community, Moffett created the sculpture titled Fountainhead.[1] The drinking fountain included giant, mismatched feet, dangling hands and breasts, with a water spout spewing from its vampire-fang, tipped lips.[1] Upon its unveiling, the mayor of Cocoa quickly decommissioned [9] and banned the piece from the city. It is currently on tour.[10]

Exhibitions & Awards

Clio Art Fair in Manhattan, NY [11](2019)

A Soldier's Home Show at Art & History Museums - Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL (2018)[12]

Orange, Fresh Squeezed Florida Artist in the Big Apple, The Bishop Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2017)[4]

Best in Show, Fountainhead, Orlando Museum of Art (2013)[4]

Best in Sculpture at Disney Festival of Masters, the Altar (1979)[13]

Best in Show, No. 1,[2] The Sarasota Art Association,[14] now Art Center Sarasota, (1970)

References
  1. Cox, Billy (9 November 2017). "Sculpture Shock". Herald Tribune. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  2. Benbow, Charles (25 December 1970). "12- Year-Olds art Most Original". Tampa Bay Times. p. 75. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  3. Gabriel, Joan (19 September 1982). "BCC's new gallery hosts show of contrasts". Florida Today. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. Sonnerberg, Maria (5 Oct 2017). "Moffett's art depicts pain, repercussions of Vietnam War". Viera Voice. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  5. Pirani, Jessica (10 January 2017). "Artist Spotlight: Michael Moffett". Artborne Magazine. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  6. Palm, Matthew J. (13 November 2018). "Veterans explore art and war at A&H Museums". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  7. "Moffett Art - Shock Artist Michael Moffett of Cocoa Beach". WUCF artisodes. 18 August 2017.
  8. "Faculty". Art and History Maitland. 21 July 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "Village seeks a fountain". Florida Today. 24 November 1980. pp. 1D.
  10. Cox, Billy (26 May 1981). "Fountainhead Controversial sculpture finds a home". Florida Today. pp. 1D. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  11. "Clio Art Fair". Sam Heydt. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  12. "Soldier's Home: Veterans' Art in Central Florida". Art and History Museum. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  13. Clark, Amy (22 Oct 1980). "11 Brevard artist make 'Masters'". Florida Today. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  14. Benbow, Charles (25 December 1970). ""12-Year-Old's Art Most Original"". Tampa Bay Times. pp. 8D. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.