Russell Whiting, the remarkable steel sculptor from Louisiana has joined Mirada Fine Art, and we are absolutely thrilled to have him on board!
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| Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Walking Angel (side view), Torch-Carved Steel, 74" x 50" x 30" |
Russell Whiting, a resident of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, is the epitome of a successful self-taught artist,
creating classical forms with a contemporary flair. As a child he frequently found himself compelled to draw or
paint the imagery he saw so vividly in his mind. In his early 20s, he began
carving wood to create his figures. Then, while working as a welder in
shipyards and oil fields during the 1980s, Russell was struck with the
realization that steel could be ‘carved’ much like wood, producing even more
astonishing and striking sculptural pieces. Within a few years, Whiting had developed his own unique
metalworking technique.
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| Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Walking Angel (front view), Torch-Carved Steel, 74" x 50" x 30" |
Russell Whiting’s work
is influenced by wide and varied factors—religion, ancient cultures, cinema,
other artists—both realistic and surreal.
His figures flow from dream, fantasy and conscious manipulation. A distinctive technique using an
oxy-acetylene torch to carve steel into eloquent figures results in instantly
recognizable and elegant pieces.
Classical figures executed in a contemporary style lend a unique grace
and fluidity to Whiting’s sculpture.
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| Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Angel on Wheel, Torch-Carved Steel, 77" x 29" x 17" |
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| Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Angel on Wheel (close up), Torch-Carved Steel, 77" x 29" x 17" |
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| Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Angel on Wheel (from behind), Torch-Carved Steel, 77" x 29" x 17" |
“My images are often combined and reborn, with little regard
to logic or cultural origins,” Whiting has stated. The artist is reknowned for his ‘walking figures’—life-size
steel sculptures of steel men, women or winged angels which can be seen
throughout the world in both private and public sculpture gardens. Equally amazing are his scaled-down
versions which incorporate the same steel carving, hammering and welding
techniques. Viewers respond on a
deep level to this artist’s unique modern interpretation of classical forms.
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| Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Walking Winged Angel, 19" x 11" x 6" |
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| Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Vertical Angel - Large, Torch-Carved Steel, 115" x 17" x 17" |
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Russell Whiting at Mirada Fine Art, Vertical Angel - Large (close up), Torch-Carved Steel, 115" x 17" x 17"
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