Hello Darkness: The Emotional Weight of Bronze with Tim Shaw

Today on the show, Lucy Branch speaks to Timothy Paul Schmalz, a contemporary Canadian figurative sculptor whose large-scale religious bronze works have found their way into some of the most significant public spaces in the world — including St. Peter's Square in Rome, where his monumental Angels Unawares stands permanently and cities across the globe where his Homeless Jesus continues to be installed.In this conversation, Tim talks about walking away from art school, building a practice entirely on his own terms, and the discipline of a creative life devoted to a single purpose. He reflects on the faith it takes to begin a piece without knowing where it will go — and on the year the first cast of Homeless Jesus sat in a crate because he couldn't find a home for it.He also makes a quietly compelling case for why public bronze sculpture may be one of the most powerful mediums available to an artist today.⁠Please support the show by buying ⁠Bronze Behaving Badly: Principles of Bronze Conservation⁠ or ⁠Wax On Wax Off: How To Care For Bronze Sculpture⁠ or fiction A Rarer Gift Than Gold, or Restoration MurderThe statue on our podcast graphic (Pegasus and Bellerophon) is by sculptor Amy Goodman. This podcast is created by ⁠Antique Bronze⁠

The podcast is back for part two of Season 4! This week, Lucy Branch talks to @GettingUpToStuft, a Bristol based public sculpture, who asks for no permission to create his emotionally resonant works. Shooting to fame in 2020 with his sculpture - Bear With Me - which comments on the struggles of men in our society, his work takes on a life of its own once he says goodbye to them. We hear how a friend’s simple piece of advice unlocked the sculptor he always wanted to be and how a varied career has stood him in good instead.Listening in and Get Up To Stuff with us on Instagram! @lucybranch_sculpturevulture Please support the show by rating and reviewing the podcast or by sharing an episode with a friend.This podcast is brought to you by Antique BronzeContact Lucy Branch – [email protected]

In this pre-Christmas episode of Sculpture Vulture, host Lucy Branch reflects on a fruitful year while sharing insightful clips from past episodes. Lucy features pearls of wisdom from renowned sculptors such as Kenny Hunter, Steven C. Barber, Nigel Hall, Kerry Thomas, Neil Andrews, Tom Murphy, Aiden, Tim Shaw, and Rebecca Hawkins. Each sculptor offers a unique perspective on the art of sculpture, its challenges, and its rewards. Lucy introduces the featured guest, sculptor Laura Ford, who discusses her journey in the sculpture world, insights into her creative process, and her educational initiative at the Matt Black Barn. 00:00 Introduction to Sculpture Vulture00:29 Reflecting on a Busy Year01:17 Gems from Past Episodes01:49 Kenny Hunter's Insight on Art02:24 Steven C. Barber on Monumental Thinking03:03 Nigel Hall's Sculptural Perspective04:22 Kerry Thomas on Artistic Philosophy04:57 Neil Andrews on Dynamic Form07:13 Tom Murphy on the Spirit of Art08:00 Aiden on the Essence of Great Sculpture09:10 Tim Shaw on the Pursuit of Perfection09:47 Rebecca Hawkins on Taking Time Off11:40 Interview with Laura Ford25:39 The Creative Process and Self-Consciousness26:04 The Cats and the Banking Crisis28:42 Exhibitions and Visibility28:57 The Matt Black Barn: A Dream Studio31:26 The Importance of Education in Sculpture33:04 Balancing Art and Practicality36:30 Working with a Partner39:57 Conclusion and Upcoming ExhibitionsPlease support the show by buying Wax On Wax Off: How To Care For Bronze Sculpture Or Bronze Behaving Badly: Principles of Bronze ConservationContact Lucy: [email protected] This podcast was brought to you by Antique Bronze

Today on the show, Lucy Branch talks to contemporary sculptor Rebecca Hawkins who discusses her journey from early influences in sculpture through to creating some of the world's most significant humanitarian memorials particularly addressing sexual violence in conflict and the determination to grow and survive despite hardship.Sculpture News:Rebel Bear's guerrilla art: Duke of Wellington statue with pigeon reading "The Daily Dropping"Pavarotti statue standing knee-deep in ice rink, Pesaro, ItalyTopics discussed: Early sculpture education and the challenges of art school Transformative experience in Nepal and working with the Esther Benjamins TrustThe development of the tree-women sculpturesCreating witness-style memorials for silenced voicesThe "Mother and Child" memorial (2018) for Vietnamese survivors of sexual violence during the Vietnam War (Lai Đại Hàn memorial)The Yazidi genocide memorial for Nadia's InitiativeThe first global memorial for sexual violence in conflict (unveiled The Hague, July 2025; installed Berlin, September 2025)The emotional weight of representing trauma in bronzeThe role of beauty in memorial sculptureBalancing humanitarian work with artistic practiceConnect with Rebecca Hawkins:Instagram: @rebeccahawkinssculptureLinkedIn: Rebecca HawkinsSupport the Show:We're a Spotify 2025 Most Shared Show with more shares than 91% of other podcasts!Please help us continue growing by sharing this episode with someone in your sculpture community.There are lots of ways to Support The Show, please check them out. Contact Lucy: [email protected] Find out more about Lucy's work with Antique Bronze

On the show today, Lucy Branch speaks to Sarah Monk of The Materially Speaking Podcast about Pietrasanta's International Sculpture CommunityKey Discussion Points:Pietrasanta's Unique Ecosystem and its HistoryInternational hub near Carrara marble fields with specialized artisans: mold makers, foundry workers, patina specialistsThree types of artists: major names using established studios, regular visitors, and permanent residents"You can't do sculpture on your own, you need a body of people"1963 Vatican Crisis, the Vatican ruling on religious artifacts nearly destroyed Pietrasanta overnightStudios pivoted by approaching artists like Henry Moore to scale up maquettesCreated today's model where artists work in both bronze and marbleSculptural TourismThe Giro: three-hour self-guided studio tour making access special rather than constantHistorical maquette museum includes original David castReligious public sculpture - Timothy Paul Schmalz Works Monument Viewing and Scale: how scale makes viewers feel small in an "empowering" wayFind Materially Speaking hereContact Lucy and tell her if you've been inspired by sculpture... or the show - [email protected] Please Support the Show:If you're enjoying the podcast, there are several ways you can support the work:Buy a book: Fiction and non-fiction titles available, Wax On Wax Off: How to Care for Bronze Sculpture and Bronze Behaving Badly: The Principles of Bronze ConservationLeave a review: Reviews help other sculpture enthusiasts discover the podcastSpread the word: Tell others in your network about your favourite episodes and enable others to find the Sculpture Vulture TribeVisit the website: Find the "Support the Show" button at sculpture-vulture.co.ukEvery download, review, and book purchase helps keep these conversations about public sculpture and monuments going. Thank you for being part of the Sculpture Vultures community!This podcast is brought to you by Antique Bronze (bronze sculptural and architectural conservation)

In this episode, Lucy Branch speaks with sculptor Tim Shaw about his journey from troublesome teenager to one of Britain's most compelling contemporary sculptors working in bronze and public art.Tim shares the pivotal moment that enabled him to pursue sculpture full-time, and how he's built an autonomous creative life, working primarily on bodies of work he wants to make rather than chasing commissions.We discuss his award-winning sculpture "Man on Fire" at the Imperial War Museum North, why he finds it easier to express emotion through bronze than words, and why he's never quite satisfied with his work - even when it wins major awards.Topics covered:How a book on Rodin changed everything at age 14The difference between conservation and restorationWorking with difficult subjects like war and traumaThe challenge of creating public sculpture that makes people uncomfortableBuilding a career on your own termsFind Tim Shaw:Website: timshawsculptor.comInstagram: @timshawsculptorRecent work: "Man on Fire" at Imperial War Museum North, Salford (Winner of the PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture)This podcast is created by ⁠Antique Bronze⁠Please support the show by rating and reviewing the podcastor with buymeacoffee.com/lucybranch

In today's episode, host Lucy Branch, introduces Carly Wurzel Backer PhD and, Chief Curator of the Heckscher Museum of Art, who shares insights on Emma Stebbins, a pioneering 19th-century sculptor known for her Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. The discussion covers Stebbins' life, her groundbreaking works, and the process of organising an exhibition of her sculptures. 00:00 Introduction to Sculpture Vulture00:35 Personal Update by Lucy Branch and Michael Faraday Monument03:05 Reflections and Future Goals07:45 Introducing Carly Wezel Backer and Emma Stebbins08:54 Emma Stebbins' Journey and Achievements14:45 Challenges and Triumphs in Emma Stebbins' Career24:22 Exhibition Preparation and Discoveries28:12 Emma Stebbins' Artistic Process and Legacy36:22 Conclusion and Exhibition DetailsExhibition Details : Emma Stebbins - Carving Out HistoryWhere: The Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Avenue, Huntington, New YorkWhen: September 28, 2025 - March 15, 2026Website: heckscher.orgFeatures 14 sculptures plus archival materials, including works not publicly displayed in over a century. A 256-page eThe exhibition travels to Chicago, Cincinnati, Charlottesville, and possibly other venues.Guest: Karli Wurzelbacher, PhDChief Curator at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, New York. After five years of research, she's curated "Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History" - the first museum exhibition dedicated to this pioneering 19th century American sculptor.Host: Lucy Branch MA ACR - conservator and art historian specialising in bronze post-19th sculpture and architectural features. Contact: [email protected] podcast is brought to you by Antique Bronze Please support the show

In this episode, sculptor and writer, Aidan Harte joins Lucy Branch to discuss his journey from animation to classical sculpture training in Florence, and the extraordinary controversy surrounding his first public sculpture - a horse-headed figure from Irish folklore called a Púca.What We Discuss:How animation training shaped Aiden's approach to sculptural composition and silhouetteThe value of classical training at Florence's ateliers versus contemporary art educationThe púca commission and the year-long battle that followed when a parish priest condemned it as "pagan"Why the sculpture eventually found its home 10 miles from its original locationThe challenge of creating fantasy and folklore in public sculpturePolitical dimensions of public art in IrelandThe absence of visual art addressing Northern Ireland's troubles, despite rich literary responsesParallels between writing and sculpture - the importance of editing and "killing your darlings"Find Aiden Harte:Website: aidanharte.comInstagram: @aidanhartesculptorWriting: The Spectator, Quillette, The CriticKey Takeaway:Public art requires courage - both from artists willing to create bold work and from commissioners brave enough to defend their initial vision when controversy strikes.If you're enjoying Sculpture Vulture, please share it with fellow sculpture enthusiasts and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.This podcast was brought to you by Antique Bronze

Today on the show, Lucy Branch, speaks to Juliet Rix an award-winning writer, editor, and broadcaster about the female figures commemorated in London's public sculpture. Key Discussion Points:The timing of the book: Why statues of women have only really proliferated in the 21st centuryStatistics: Fewer than 1 in 6 of London's commemorative statues were for women as of 2021, but more women than men were commemorated in 2022-23Fascinating women featured:Allegorical figures: Britannia, Justice, and their historical significanceHidden stories: The National Gallery's facade statues (castoffs from Marble Arch), the female Ariel atop the Bank of EnglandControversial works: Discussion of Alison Lapper Pregnant and the Mary Wollstonecraft statueThe nude in public sculpture: From the erotic Atalanta to the natural "Deliverance"Funding challenges: Why public sculpture remains difficult to fund despite public interestJuliette's Upcoming Events:Talk at the National Gallery: 21st OctoberMore events listed at www.julietterix.comConnect with Juliette:Website: www.julietterix.comInstagram: @julietterixLinkedInAlso in this episode: Martin Jennings interview (Season 1)⁠ - Martin has recently won the major commission for the Queen Elizabeth II sculpture in St. James's ParkHost's Details : Lucy Branch MA ACR Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Instagram/Threads: @lucybranchsculpturevulture

Today on the show, Lucy Branch speaks to sculptor Tom Murphy whose public sculptures celebrate the rich and wonderful history of Liverpool's people. We discuss his artistic journey and service to those who commission his works. Join us and Be Inspired By SculptureYou can see photos of Tom's work and read the transcript at www.sculpturesulture.co.ukContact Lucy Branch - [email protected] podcast is created by ⁠AntiqueBronze⁠