Western Art Collector Article ( February 2023 Edition )

AMANDA MARKEL SHINES AS A BRONZE ARTIST TO WATCH

Montana-based sculptor Amanda Markel's newest works explore the balance that exists between wildlife and nature. Her bronze pieces show forests merging with foxes, birds flying out of wolf figures and horses interacting with abstracted forms. Much of her work is an interplay of positive and negative space. "The experiences of beauty and hardship are inseparably woven together," she says. "Yet, they create a dynamic interplay of friction and growth, darkness and light, chaos and order. My sculptures are made to reflect the stories of our lives and stand as a tangible reminder that despite the pain we experience, beauty will always grow." Presently her work is being shown at Gallery Wild in Jackson, Wyoming, and Santa Fe, New Mexico; FOR Fine Art in Bigfork and Whitefish, Montana, and Tucson, Arizona. To see more of her work visit www.agmarkel.com/sculptures

PUBLISHED BY : WESTERN ART COLLECTOR

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Hello, my name is Amanda Markel

THE SPACES BETWEEN

A Short Artist Documentary by Bryce Gill

NEGATIVE SPACE STORIES

Sharing Beautiful Ideas with the World Through Bronze Cast Sculpting

ARTIST INTRODUCTION

Amanda Markel is an internationally collected bronze sculptor and visual storyteller. Within each sculpture, Markel employs the use of positive and negative space to illustrate a connection between the positive and negative elements of life. “I think most often my work depicts the tension between two pieces of a whole. Persistence through difficulty creates a piece about resilience. Finding a place to feel the intensity of both joy and pain creates a piece about harmony. I want to help people understand that without a negative there isn’t a positive. We need both, and they are inseparable.” She continues, “Even after one of my sculptures is cast, it isn’t complete until it is interpreted by someone other than myself. Two pieces of a whole.”

Markel’s work builds on storytelling traditions. There is deep meaning instilled within elegant forms, which invite the viewer to connect with ideas, emotions, and their own stories. Markel explains, “Art impacts the way we experience the world.” Furthermore, “I feel it is my responsibility as an artist to convey tangible narratives evoking hope, courage, resilience, and connection.” Through private collections and public installations, she aims to enrich our cultural heritage and inspire us to see the strength and beauty in our own stories.

Markel is primarily a self-taught artist. Born and raised on 80 acres in Colorado, she spent a great deal of time riding motorcycles and horses, sketching, and creating animal sculptures out of the mud in the backyard. “I have always been an avid creator, pushing the limits of my experience and capability.” She recounts. “It has taught me a lot about myself and let me confidently explore the world. There is nothing more fulfilling than the challenge of bringing a crazy idea to life and getting to share that process with people.”

Markel moved to Bozeman, Montana where she began her career as an artist and entrepreneur. Her first works were bronze cast in 2019 and she became a full-time artist in 2022. Markel is currently working on her inaugural monument sculpture, a 1.25-life-size wolf, which is set to be cast in the spring of 2023.

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Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed learning more about my experience as an artist!

© 2023 A.G. Markel. All Rights Reserved.