Bryce Pettit

Bryce grew up surrounded by nature. His deep love for the world around him and his desire to create art have always been closely linked. When he entered college, he studied biology and the natural sciences followed by graduate studies in ecology. Eventually his passion for art became undeniable and he focused full time on an art career.

At first Bryce took any sculpting job that he could find including sculpting for a variety of architectural and hardware companies. Following his innate curiosity, Bryce learned the science and industrial mechanics of bronze casting and metallurgy. He immersed himself in understanding the foundry process and in turn mastered each step.

These early years of intensive learning gave him the skills to unleash his creativity. Bryce traveled the country attending shows and exhibiting his sculptures anywhere there was a willing audience. Eventually his work began to be widely recognized and appreciated. Bryce has now been a professional sculptor for nearly 20 and featured in a variety of galleries and exhibitions. He has been chosen for several large public works including for the Tulsa International Airport, the Maritime Museum in Ludington Michigan, the Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kawai, Hawaii as well a collection of libraries and schools.

Bryce currently lives in Durango, Colorado surrounded by the mountains and rivers he loves.

“I find the inspiration for my work in the natural world, but my sculptures are not just models of animal subjects. Each piece has an underlying story and is imbued with feeling and emotion. My work is meant to teach and inspire, both about the animals and about ourselves. The amazing diversity of fur and feathers, limbs, bodies, beaks, hoof and claw give me endless elements with which to create. Through its great variety, I feel like I can use the animal form to convey any message.

The artistic strength of a sculpture is in the simplicity of its composition. I try to pare each piece down to the minimum necessary to tell the story. When the composition is reduced to only the essentials, the intensity of the movement and impact of the form is pure and direct.

The power that any piece of art has to connect with another is derived from its authenticity. My sculptures are a window into my soul. I pour into the clay my hopes and dreams, my love, my pain, my insights, my understanding. Through my work, I can tell you my story.”

– Bryce Pettit