Rust Never Sleeps

My work installed at Gallery on First, Sanford, Florida, April 2023.

Rust Never Sleeps

Here are a couple of recently executed small sculptures. April 2023

Art Miami 2022

Screen sculpture by American sculptor David Hayes, 1931 -2013.

"Homage"

I was honored to be invited to a short residency at Stone Walls, home of the David Hayes Sculpture Fields in Coventry Ct. in August of 2021. My second visit to the home and studio of the late modern master David Hayes. http://www.davidhayes.com/ I met David Hayes in 2008 in Syracuse, NY. He had a citywide multi piece exhibition. Twenty some sculptures installed throughout the city on a walking tour beginning at the Everson Museum and ending in the near west side. I visited the exhibition several times during that year and jumped at the chance to hear him speak when he offered a talk about his life and work. It was after his lecture that I had a warm and inspiring visit with him. Sadly Mr.Hayes passed in 2013. In a chance meeting several years later I met his son John in Florida and have since become friends. Through John I have come to know older brother David and sister Mary. This frienship with the family has given me an even greater appreciation for the artist. His commitment to his craft. His dedication and hard work. The challenges that he faced as an artist and family man. This has been and continues to be a rewarding and inspiring relationship. I was offered an extremely unique opportunity to sift through the now dust and dirt covered outdoor work space where Mr. Hayes cut steel. I was asked to take anything small that I wished, and to make a sculpture or two or three. "Homage" is the second sculpture completed with this material gleaned from the grounds. This work is composed of four seperate pieces of steel and arranged in a manner as true to the artist's aesthetic as I could imagine. I also made an effort to leave each piece as close to way I found them, with minimal grinding or alteration as reasonable. This was so as to leave as much of the hand of the master live on in this sculpture. I did however add an element that was my own. The round circular piece was something I had and included so as to add my own touch to the piece. It also serves as a nod to David Smith, (American sculptor 1906 - 1965)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Smith_(sculptor). David Smith and David Hayes met at the University of Indiana when Smith was teaching and Hayes was a graduate student. David Hayes would subsequently visit Bolton Landing summers to work with Smith and learn and refine his welding skills. This sculpture is a tribute to these two men. Their work and dedication to advancing modern art in their lifetimes.

Julia

I was honored to be the first resident artist at the David Hayes Sculpture Fields in Coventry, Ct. this past August. Certainly a highlight of 2021. The David Hayes Art Foundation.

“Julia,” 2021, by Kevin Abbott. Under the aegis of the David Hayes Art Foundation, the sculptor Kevin Abbott created several small sculptures from cast-offs left by David Hayes and harvested from his studio floor. Kevin Abbott is the inaugural participant of a mini summer residency on the grounds of the David Hayes Sculpture Fields. Welded steel cast-offs coated with protective varnish. #kvabbott, #davidhayes, #coventryct., #steelsculpture, #sculpturefields, #residentartist, #kevinabbottart

Anthology Debe and K.V. Abbott

"Temple"

This piece evokes an ancient/future dystopian aesthetic. This work was created in 2021 to be a feature piece in my exhibition "Anthology" at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts, Mount Dora, Florida. Welded steel/paint/patina. 37 X 18 X 12"

Garden Sculpture SOLD

These two garden sculptures are welded and painted steel. The top piece, "Burning Bush" is 84" tall. SOLD Private collection, Florida. The second piece, "Blue Delphimium" is 77" tall. These two works are created from found objects. The materials were given to me by my neighbor and determined in large measure my design. Thank you Harry!

"Warrior w/Shield II" SOLD

The latest in my "Tin Soldier series" Welded and etched steel/paint/patina. 12.5 X 3.5 X 2"

"The Farmer" SOLD

"The Farmer" Found objects/welded steel. This small tabletop sculpture recently sold at 4 Elements Studio, Utica, NY.

"The Critic" SOLD

Deb and I have always had a cat or two around. When we moved to Florida, we agreed, "No more animals". Right.....That didn't last long. We have two that moved in and adopted us within the first couple of years we were here. A small gray kitten was the first to show up in the yard. Born to a feral mother we expect. She was so young that she completely domesticated. The second one known as Frida Cathlo, for of course the artist Frida Kahlo. This is Frida here with one of my small steel sculptures. This sculpture is now sold. Private collection. New Mexico, USA.

"The Isolationist" $600

This tabletop size sculpture was exectued during the COVID 19 Pandemic "lock down". 17" X 6" X 4" Welded, torch cut and etched steel.

"Red Kimono" $900

"Red Kimono" Acrylic on canvas and canvas on canvas, 24" X 30", 2019/2020. The latest in my "Silk Road" series.

"Funny Valentine" $400

"Funny Valentine" Acrylic on canvas. 16" X 20" February 2020.

"Waltzing Matilda" $2,300

This acrylic on canvas is a painting I made in 2019. I had been uncertain if it was finished so I have been sitting on it, but have decided I like it just fine the way it is. Going to frame it up and debut it for the January Art Walk at Gallery on First, Sanford, Fl. . 36" X 48". Still working on a title. Available $2,300.00

"Composition for Radha" $600

This tabletop sculpture is made from recycled scrap metal. Torch cut and welded. 15" X 14" X 4". This piece has a strong Mid Century Brutalist influence. The flow of the design and the rusted patina lend an organic quality to this steel sculpture. Available $600.00

"Sail Away" $450

Welded torch cut steel and industrial salvage. 21" X 9 X 3" Available. Gallery on First, Sanford, Florida. $450.00 Shipping is always available.

Novado Gallery

I am very excited to be shipping four small works in steel to this outstanding gallery in Jersey City, NJ. From their website: Eight minutes via the Path Train from Manhattan, NOVADO GALLERY is located in the historic Modera Lofts building in the Powerhouse Arts District. Getting to the gallery from New York City via the Holland Tunnel, Path Train or ferry is easy. We are 2 blocks from the Harborside Ferry and Light Rail Stations, and 3 short blocks from the Grove Street Path Station. NOVADO GALLERY features rotating contemporary art exhibitions and an ongoing inventory of available works. NOVADO GALLERY is owned and operated by Anne Novado and Steve Pearlman. Thank you Anne Novado for extending this opportunity. http://www.novadogallery.com

"HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN" SOLD

Welded steel tabletop sculpture. 13" X 9"X 5" Torch cut welded steel.

"Shogun"

"Shogun" This small tabletop sculpture is made from welded steel/industrial salvage. A simple design with an obvious Japanese influence. An understated and simply elegant piece.