The larger-than-life figurative sculptures of Michael Ferris (b. 1969) embody a rich fusion of cultural and artistic traditions. Trained as a painter, Ferris embraced sculpture twenty-five years ago and developed an inlay technique inspired by intarsia woodworking from his Middle-Eastern heritage. Ferris’s unique approach to this historical process involves the reclaiming of discarded wood, a method informed by his environmental concerns. He further expands this traditional practice through the use of pigmented grout, which yields a color palette beyond wood’s natural hues. The resulting inlaid patterns evoke Maori tattoos or the elaborate ornamentation of folk art. Michael’s artwork is an immersive experience that celebrates the heroism of the people who populate our everyday worlds.
-SUZANNE RAMLJAK 2021
