The National Sculpture Society is pleased to present Primary View: Sculpture in Relief. The exhibition features the work of 20 members of the Society and will be on view from September 16 – December 20, 2024 at the NSS Gallery in midtown Manhattan. Works in low, mid, and high relief are celebrated in this show which explores the details and rhythms of each carving, and highlights the mastery of all the artists included within the exhibition. Visitors are encouraged to view the works of bronze, wood, marble, terracotta — as well as paper, and ostrich eggshell — from their primary view (front) to their secondary view (sides). The sculptures on display represent the different styles, backgrounds, and disciplines of NSS members. Fellows (FNSS), Elected Members (NSS), and Associates comprise the levels of membership of the organization which is international in scope and appeal. National Sculpture Society is a not-for-profit organization which supports excellence in sculpture through various educational programs including scholarships and grants for emerging artists.

The Jury of Selection plays an important part in shaping and balancing an exhibition and each jury is comprised of two sculptors and one curator. For the Primary View exhibition, the Jury of Selection included Mashiko, Medallist and Gallery Owner, Medialia Gallery (NYC); Amy Kann, FNSS; and Jeremiah D. Welsh, NSS.

Artists in the show are Meredith Bergmann, FNSS; Michael Bergt, FNSS; Jeffrey Briggs, NSS; Craig Campbell, NSS; Anne Olsen Daub; Morgan Dummitt, NSS; Jim Franklin; Carter Jones, FNSS; Heena Kim; Cherie Lee; Bruno Lucchesi, FNSS; Gayle Madeira; Walter Matia, FNSS; Thomas R. McPhee; Evan Morse; Jedediah Morfit; C.P. Pham; Deborah Samia; Christopher Smith, FNSS; and Suzanne Storer, NSS.

Brooklyn artist, Heena Kim captures the fickleness of the human experience in her choice of natural materials and use of paper in her work.  “My sculptures, crafted primarily from mulberry tree bark, are an exploration of the fragility and impermanence of human life. These delicate forms echo the transience of existence, yet they also embody an inherent beauty that persists despite their ephemeral nature. I believe that within this fragility lies a profound beauty. The translucency and texture of the paper reveal a subtle elegance, capturing the light and creating a play of shadows that speaks to the complexity and depth of human experience.”

“As a sculptor, I delve into the history of art for the most powerful weapons I can employ to link past and present. I use beauty and skill to slow people down, to give them time to think about symbolic resonances and to address complex issues without simplification,” says Meredith Bergmann. “The traditional imagery portraying the Madonna and Child is full of realistic, delightful and poignant details: the mother’s hand holding the child’s foot, the child playing with a bird, fruit or flower, the mother’s glance full of premonitory sorrow. My allegorical Mother might be America, teaching her children to wield real weapons.”

For sculptor Evan Morse, his time spent in Italy carving marble near the Adriatic Sea made an indelible impression on his work. “This marble relief was inspired by a young couple that I saw seated on a bench in Ravenna, Italy. I transposed a photo of them to a drawing and added symbolic imagery to suggest a mythical narrative. I selected certain elements from historic artworks I had seen around Ravenna, some from the Byzantine era. The lovers’ story is up to the viewer’s interpretation, in the same way that an ancient artwork requires imagination if its original meaning is unknown. Working from my drawing, I carved the marble piece by hand.”

National Sculpture Society was founded in New York City in 1893 by a group of America’s most prominent sculptors. Its members have created much of this country’s public sculpture, coins, and medals since the late 1800s. It is the oldest organization of professional sculptors in the United States and has been hosting exhibitions for over a century. Fellows (FNSS), Elected Members (NSS), and Associates designate the types of sculptor membership in the organization, which is international in scope and appeal. National Sculpture Society is dedicated to promoting excellence in sculpture that is inspired by nature.