Sculptor Mark Davis began his work with sterling silver, gold plating and brass, fabricating chosen metals into jewelry. His current work takes those same base materials to a different level, experimenting with larger sculptural forms and mobiles.

BRILLIANT NOIR, MD360, Mark Davis
Brass, Aluminum and Steel Wires
With Acrylic Color

Davis takes inspiration from Calder, and his glowing, burnished metal work is self-taught. He begins with flat sheets of metal, using steel, brass and aluminum, with steel being the heaviest and aluminum the lightest weight. He uses traditional methods of silversmithing, using hammers and other forming tools to create the shapes.

GARDEN OF THE MOON, MD348, Mark Davis
Brass, Aluminum, 23K Gold Leaf
and Steel Wires with Acrylic Colors

The soft, glowing gradients of color provide an additional depth to his work. I could view each beautifully worked piece of metal within the sculpture as a work of art itself, and he balances them perfectly into a moving vision.

ICARUS, Mark Davis
Large hanging mobile in brass and
aluminum with steel wires, oil and
acrylic colors

“Icarus” is the mobile Davis created specifically for the  Fuller Craft Museum in Massachusetts. The sculpture hangs in the  museum’s courtyard gallery.

“To me, there is a wondrous joy that comes from creating something that comes from inside and bringing it out into the world. And metal will probably be in the world for many years after I’m gone.” Mark Davis, from Galleria Silecchia

Interesting that this quote on “wondrous joy” comes on the heels of an email from friend and fellow glass artist, Brandie Dunn.  Brandie just sent me a link to a newsletter referencing a Harvard study on artist creativity and success.  In a nutshell, artists are at their most creative when simply looking for joy.  The work of Mark Davis illustrates the principle very well.