Jud Turner

Eugene, OR

Posted: 6.3.09

More info: Artist site

(3.96 - 154 votes)

Jud on his work:

Quantum physics tells us that apparently solid objects are comprised of vast empty spaces, populated by tiny particles whose individual relationships create the whole. And that a single particle can exist in two separate places during one moment in time.

I explore such dichotomies in my sculpture. Using welded steel and found objects, I create artwork which embraces opposites — the tension between humans and nature; the perils of balancing biology and technology; or the combination of ancient fossils with modern machinery. I also engage contradictions by the materials I choose — human forms which appear solid and realistic, but which were made with a delicate surface of thin wire, allowing the viewer to see through the figure; or by mixing the sense of scale in a piece, using large items alongside tiny pieces.

I place a high value on craftsmanship and surface appearances. I try to balance realism with a stylization that allows me the freedom to push concepts into the deepest levels of the viewer’s perception. While my vision can tend towards the darker side of human nature, my work is infused with a sense of humor which can make difficult subjects easier to approach.

I have worked with found objects and welded steel for the past 16 years; my background and training was in drawing and painting. I enjoy of the process of making sculpture — finding objects which are re-purposed in my studio, its solitude, the intensive labor, and especially the way that making art affects how I view the world around me. I have many ideas for sculptures roaming through my imagination, but only those which operate on multiple levels of meaning and visual satisfaction are realized in the physical world.