Devin Laurence Field is unique among contemporary large-scale metal sculptors because of the level of articulation he achieves in directly fabricated steel. Not sculpted in clay then cast in metal, or hammered in thin sheet onto a sculpted pattern, his work is cut, forged, pressed, welded, ground and polished using thick plate steels.

Predominantly commissioned for public sites, these sculptures are not simple abstract designs; rather they are complicated, graceful representations of the natural and built environments. Each is unique, usually site specific and always poignant in its message.

The art of Devin Laurence Field brings together universal and archetypal symbolism, the vernacular of a given site or culture, and images from nature to communicate ideas about the evolution of the human condition as it relates to the natural world.

“Mr. Field's ambition as a sculptor to produce the work that he does, is directly challenging the calling of the modern sculptor. His sensitivity and questioning conscience that is evident in his pieces must be a product of the struggle between his affection for nature and the harsh stimulation of the society at large. Mr. Field's values and intuitions are perhaps instilled by an identification with the nature of the Earth and as the ancient peoples did, he includes in nature, all things living.”

-Hiroshi Minamizawa, author of numerous books on metal sculpture and ornament including "Monuments and Culture", "The World of Decorative and Architectural Wrought Iron", and "The Shape of Civilization". He is also the president of Yoshiyo Kobo Co Ltd, one of Japan's leading producers of ornamental metal works.

“Devin Laurence Field is a sculptor who works metal with great profundity, reaching a singular level of mastery in monumental works as well as in small format. He achieves this mastery by combining his unique structural strategy with a particular manner of reinterpreting the world, mixing technique with emotions to obtain an exceedingly universal conception.

An unequaled fabricator, he creates from direct hard metal, representations which could easily be mistaken for cast work, due to his execution, knowledge of the material, and a technical quality that is extraordinary.

One of the things that identifies us most is the search for the monumental, for he too has spent a good part of his life and artistic pursuits creating monumental urban sculptures, integrating ancient precepts with a spirit of renovation and modern investigation.”

-Sebastian, internationally renowned
Mexican sculptor of monumental public art.Designer of the 147-foot tall “Puerta de Chihuahua," Mexico, the 65-foot tall “Tsuru” in Japan and over 50 other major works around the world.

Honored by his peers with such awards as the Helen Foster Barnett Award from the National Academy of Design in New York and the Evelyn and Peter Haller Award from the Society of Animal Artists, Devin Laurence Field has exhibited in museums nationally and abroad. As a member of the International Sculpture Center, Society of Animal Artists and Pacific Northwest Sculptors Association, Devin is an active promoter of sculpture and a regular participant at symposia internationally.

Devin Laurence Field is the owner of Black Cat Studios in Portland, Oregon where he fabricates sculptures in stainless, cor-ten and galvanized steel.

In October, 2003, Oregon Public Broadcasting's ArtBeat aired a feature on Devin's work. You can watch this Quicktime Streaming Video program here.

For information about a commission from the artist, contact the studio directly.