Russ Vogt, Sculpture
Russ’s parents grew up during the Depression and his grandparents were family farmers. In such a setting, life required they “make do” or “figure it out.” Russ and his father once built a complete scooter using only homemade parts. The artist continues to honor this inventive aesthetic with his structural sculptures.
Russ Vogt describes his vibrant sculptural forms as “ceramic pole sculptures,” but words scarcely do justice to the artist’s dynamic fusions of color and form.
The sculptor develops his imaginative statuary by first creating earthenware components using wheel-thrown and hand-built techniques. He fires the organic shapes in vivid hues and then stacks the pieces on an underlying steel structure.
Designed for indoor or outdoor use, Russ’ work can be configured as fences, clustered together, mounted on concrete walls, attached to the sides of buildings. Individual sculptures can stand alone as the focal point of a room or garden.
Russ obtained his MFA from the University of Illinois in 1978. Since that time, his work has been sought by private and major corporate collectors throughout the United States. Notable collections include the Mayo Clinic, Norwest Bank, Minneapolis Star and Tribune, Quarles & Brady, Northwest Mutual Insurance, and the David Ruttenberg Arts Foundation.
The artist was born and raised in central Minnesota. Today, Russ and his sculptor wife, Suzanne, make their home in the Minneapolis area.
Are you interested in purchasing Russ Vogt’s work? Please contact Rogoway Turquoise Tortoise Gallery for more information.
