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Breathtaking Wire Sculptures Capture the Fluidity of the Human Body

English artist Richard Stainthorp captures the beautiful energy and fluidity of the human body using wire. The life-sized sculptures feature both figures in motion and at rest, expressed in the form of large-gauged strands that are densely wrapped around and through one another. By doing this, he gives the work an undeniable presence. Stainthorp also allows the bent wires to shine by keeping their metallic appearance free from any obvious painting or additions.

Stainthorp has created these alluring artworks for almost 20 years. They don't have any facial features, but through their body language, we understand their emotions. Some look as though they're falling and communicate a feeling of freedom or infinite possibility. Another sculpture has a breathtaking set of wire “wings” that appear as its shield. To think that Stainthorp articulates all of this through something as ubiquitous as wire is incredible.

Richard Stainthorp website and Facebook page
via [Open for Business]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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