Rob Lorenson
Rob Lorenson Description
Rob Lorenson (b. 1969, USA)
Rob Lorenson is a sculptor of abstract forms. The pieces he constructs range from small tabletop pieces to massive outdoor sculptures. These sculptures are manufactured from stainless steel or aluminum with vibrantly painted finishes for longevity.
Although the works are abstract, growth and rhythms from the natural world are some of his design inspirations. The way the sculptures form shapes that are positive and negative are important to the artist. He consciously removes signs of the maker. The construction of the sculpture is enigmatic, employing slick mysterious surfaces, there is little evidence of how or why it was made.
Poppy Rhythm is a large, human-sized, painted aluminum sculpture. It’s the type of piece that would accentuate the architectural features around most homes when placed outside to be seen daily. The poppy red would contrast vividly near green foliage in the outdoors.
"The methodology behind my work is to create a compositionally rich interplay of modernist elements that are exceptionally crafted to remove the hand of the artist. The purpose of this is to further emphasize the compositional qualities of the work, which is to create dynamic movement with static solid objects. I also intend to make the work look manufactured, as though it was itself an industrial product, like the industrial forms that originally influenced it."
Lorenson received his M.F.A. from Northern Illinois University, and B.F.A. from University of Northern Iowa. Prolific outdoor sculpture artist, Bruce White, was his mentor, while attending NIU in the 1990s. Lorenson’s sculptures are included in numerous public and private collections from small tabletop pieces to 20' large-scale sculptures. Since 1999 he has lived and taught sculpture in southeastern Massachusetts.
Rob Lorenson Statement
"I was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1969. Having an interest in sculpture early on, I was fortunate enough to attend the University of Northern Iowa on a scholarship to study art. During my time there, I was mentored and encouraged to attend graduate school. My graduate school experience was centered around two things; the first was to start a collegiate level career as a professor, and the second was to work with an accomplished artist in my field. I received that education at Northern Illinois University, graduating with an MFA in Sculpture in 1994.
There, I mentored with Bruce White both on campus, and as a studio fabricator building some of his large-scale works and helping with several small projects. Bruce taught me so much, and I cherish his mentorship to this day." - Rob Lorenson
