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A series of fascinating and surreal wood art sculptures.
As a sculpture major at the University of Oregon, Julian Watts didn’t work with wood, but with more unconventional, experimental materials. After completing his studies and going back to his native San Francisco, he started working in a local furniture workshop. There, he learned and then strengthened woodworking skills that ultimately set him on a new creative path. The artist’s first works combined traditional craft with modern art, blending function and form. Vases, bowls, and spoon-like objects designed with organic silhouettes. Somewhat strange and certainly distinctive, the items referenced household products and ordinary objects. At the same time, the wood art sculptures intrigued the viewer with their surreal vibe. A blend of utilitarian design and whimsical features also defined the series.
With his latest wood art sculptures, Julian Watts brings a dream-like world to life and invites the viewer for the ride. Carved from different types of wood, these biomorphic shapes are as fascinating as they are bold. A balanced play between contemporary art and traditional craftsmanship, the artworks remind of natural structures or even of living organisms. Large spheres and totem-like shapes show the organic patterns and textures of solid wood. While clearly displaying the touch of the maker via tool marks across the surface of the natural material, the sculptures have almost uncanny primordial aura. Their powerful presence captures the attention of the viewer and doesn’t let go easily. Photographs© Julian Watts.
