Inner Perceptions, Outer Reflections

A longtime resident of Monte Carlo, Canadian Blake Ward’s new works from his Spirits Collection provoke introspection, illustrating his contemporary approach to classical figurative sculpture and his development from firm academicism to a new liberating metallic expressionism. Building on the techniques of figurative sculpture developed in antiquity, his newest pieces challenge the classical figure by opening up the interior space of the human form as a way to search our inner selves.

While the 59-year-old Ward remains true to the representational quality and the realistic proportions of traditional sculpture, Spirits crosses over into abstract and ethereal realms where he aims for provocative figures that expand the consciousness of our inner realities. Ward’s 1⁄4 scale, partial figures break away from all the fundamental rules of bronze sculpture. Both seductive and tragic, their perfect proportions reflect the hidden perspectives of our human condition. The textured exterior surface alludes to the complexity of our individuality.