Sanctum by Michael Wolf

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The BrassWorks Gallery presents the captivating works of renowned artist Michael Wolf in his latest exhibition, Architectural Echoes, which runs from October 17 through January 10, 2025. This exhibition delves into the profound connection between human experience and architectural spaces, showcasing Wolf's unique ability to translate physical environments’ psychological and emotional impacts into striking sculptural forms.

Michael Wolf is an artist in the NYC area whose work spans sculpture, installation, and drawing. His creations serve as metaphors for the human experience, reflecting the physical and psychological desire for shelter—whether experienced or remembered. Wolf’s artistic practice engages in an ongoing dialogue with history, using materials like wood, stone, metal, and gold leaf to craft contemporary art that speaks to the timeless human condition. His sculptures, primarily composed of architectural and geometric forms, sometimes contrasted with organic and draped ones, invite viewers into a contemplative space where memories of significant places and spaces are evoked.

Wolf’s work draws inspiration from diverse sources, including ancient monuments, sacred spaces, and various types of architecture from urban, industrial, and rural settings. His meticulous attention to form, texture, and composition aims to resonate deeply with viewers, creating a portal to introspection and contemplation. Utilizing wood as his primary medium—a renewable natural resource—Wolf incorporates found branches, metal, and stone into his sculptures, embellishing them with pure pigments and gold leaf. This blend of materials and techniques underscores the timeless dialogue between contemporary art and historical context and enhances the tactile and visual appeal of his creations.

Michael Wolf’s artistic journey is marked by notable achievements and exhibitions. His large-scale installations have graced esteemed venues such as the Orlando Museum of Art, the Future of Cities Climate and Innovation Hub during Miami Art Week, and the Center for Contemporary Art. Wolf’s public sculpture installation with the New York City Parks Department on the Lower East Side’s Allen St. Mall during the summer of 2022 received widespread acclaim. In 2024, his solo exhibition “Domicilium: A Place to Dwell” at ATELIER Gallery in Indiana further established his reputation as a master of creating immersive, thought-provoking works. Wolf’s dedication to his craft has earned him individual fellowship grants from the NJ State Council of the Arts and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation as well as the prestigious Power of Art Award presented by Robert Rauschenberg.

Wolf’s contributions to the art world extend beyond his creations. As an arts writer, he has penned articles for Whitehot Magazine, ArteFuse, and Art Zealous, and he has curated exhibitions for the Sculptors Guild and the web-based app Ask Arthur. His international presence was solidified with a project for The Bau Container of Contemporary Culture in Viareggio, Italy, where his work was included in the prestigious Palazzo Reale and Museo del Novecento in Milan.

There will be an Opening Reception on Thursday, October 17, 2024 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

The BrassWorks Gallery is located at 105 Grove Street in Montclair, New Jersey. BrassWorks is open Monday through Friday from 7:00am - 7:00pm.  Originally constructed during the early twentieth century, 105 Grove Street was, for many years, home to the family-owned George Rutledge Etched Brass Works company. The property was converted into a unique professional office building in 2007 and provides space for a community art gallery. Upon learning the site’s heritage as home to a family-owned brass works company, the partners decided to transform the building while honoring its past, by naming it BrassWorks on Grove. The present building combines modern amenities with faithful restoration of the original 1930 architectural details.