My work is inspired by the exquisite forms that exist in science and nature, at levels often invisible to the human eye. More than 20 years ago, I created pieces based on pollen slides prepared by my grandfather, botanist Dr. Wendell Bragonier. Today I collect digital images taken by powerful electron microscopes. In them, I find forms and archetypal shapes that I can interpret in sculpture. After dimensional conceptualization, I create engineered studies that are beautiful in their own right and allow me to qualify the works for large-scale 2D and 3D forms. I then use my years of experience in production and art fabrication to paint or sculpt in stainless steel, aluminum, or carbon steel into the final realization. I am able to create works of art that appeal to a wide audience and invite interaction as fun and fascinating objects first, and as symbols of the beauty and wonder of science and nature second. My art work is sensitive to sustainability and conservation issues in that they contain 70-80 percent recycled materials.
I am represented by Yares Art Projects. My work has been shown at Riva Yares Galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Scottsdale, Arizona as well as at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Laguna Beach, California and the Contemporary Arts Forum in Santa Barbara, California. I have had my work featured in ARTnews, Western Interiors, Sunset Magazine, The Santa Fean, Santa Barbara Magazine, Trend, and the Albuquerque Journal, Santa Barbara News Press, and Ventura County Star Free Press.
I received an award from WESTAF and did fellowships with Beverly Pepper at the Institute of Fine Art in Santa Fe and with Takio Ogai’s at The Carving Studio in Vermont. I live in Santa Fe, and am an Adjunct Professor at Santa Fe Community College's School of Arts, Design & Media Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.