Meet Jeff Glode Wise | Sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Glode Wise and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff Glode, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk taking simply means not letting marketplace pressure or external voices dilute or alter my personal artistic vision. I’ve had to take commissions that were driven by economic necessity but they have provided the resources to make the work that matters. I have to trust my own voice, while being courageous and honest with myself. Sometimes when I’m working, I realize that the art has lost focus or become merely decorative and it needs to be cut away and redirected. If days of work are lost, so be it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Art is about figuring out how to create with the resources available. I had a beautiful studio space that I had to let go with the 2008 economic collapse. Now I work under a tent with minimal tools but the vision remains. I make sculpture in components that can be moved by hand, rather than using a hoist. I have developed a unique style of creating weblike forms built from individual metal rods. The sculptures are both solid and transparent, allowing the viewer to see through them and experience the front and back of a piece at the same time. The shadows cast by my work play an important role, adding an entirely different perspective and visual performance to the artwork. I didn’t go to college or move to New York or L.A. so like most non mainstream artists I haven’t had access to traditional networking and have created and followed my own pathway. Be courageous, relentless and compassionate.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
At the moment, we are in a rental house near Escalante Utah, exploring slot canyons. We have taken numerous friends and relatives on hiking and biking camping trips in the red rock desert, a place of stark otherworldly beauty, animated by shifting light and geologic drama.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife Susan is also an artist and we have given each other the love, space and support to pursue our personal and professional interests. I would like to thank the teachers and adults in my young life who took the time to share their skills and nurture my artistic passions. As an adult, I have always tried to give guidance and encouragement to young folks on the seeking path

Website: JeffWiseArt.com

Instagram: Jeffwiseart

Image Credits
All photography by artist, Jeff G Wise