Michael Van Hout (NC, b. 1953), Relief Sculpture of Sea Life From Historic NC Salvaged Copper

Lot Details & Additional Photographs

Completed in 1999 from copper salvaged from of the original 197-foot spire of the First Baptist Church in downtown Wilmington that was damaged after Hurricane Fran in 1996, cutwork relief featuring (10) various fish species, a hermit crab and sea turtle, mounted to a wooden panel, ink signed and dated to the reverse.
Included with the Lot is the full scale ink on paper template design of the sculpture, signed lower right.

Sculpture 40 1/4 x 32 1/2 x 4 in.; sheet size 54 1/4 x 32 1/2 in.

Private Collection, North Carolina

Wilmington, North Carolina artist Michael Van Hout has made significant contributions to the arts in his community including the Airlie Gardens Bottle Chapel, installations for the Fort Fisher Aquarium, and leading courses for children at the Dreams Center. Van Hout found his career as a sculptor in college while working for the grounds crew. He would collect the wires that bound pine straw bails and construct figures out of them. His enjoyment in the craft led him to declare a BSA in sculpture.

Today, he creates sculptures organically in his studio, using a variety of media. His sculptures are often in motion and embrace a fascination with animals, anatomy, and nostalgia.

Sculpture with natural areas of surface wear and variation as made/found. Paper with creasing, wear to edges, and toning.