“A life-sized stainless steel sculpture of a Hoopoe bird. A private commission featuring the bird's iconic fanned crest and detailed, layered plumage.”
This life-sized sculpture of a Hoopoe captures the bird’s most iconic feature: its magnificent, fan-like crest. Commissioned for a private collection, the piece depicts the bird in a dynamic "display" posture, with wings extended and the crest raised—a gesture used for communication and defense in the wild.
Crafted from stainless steel, the sculpture relies on intricate layering to replicate the bird’s complex plumage. I used hundreds of individually shaped steel "feathers" to mimic the barred pattern of the wings and tail. The long, decurved bill—perfectly adapted for probing the ground—adds a sharp, elegant line to the composition. Perched on a steel branch, the work balances the weight of the metal with the visual lightness of the bird’s flight, creating a permanent flash of energy for the owner's home.
