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Jonathan Bickart, Sculptor, born 1959 in Phoenix,
Arizona moved to Los Angeles, California in 1985. At the age of
fourteen-figure drawing, portraits and sculpture cultivated Jonathan
to a level of recognized scholastic achievement. After attending
several art colleges, including Art Center of Design, Jonathan
worked with Venice sculptor, Robert Graham. It was at that point
that Jonathan committed exclusively to figurative bronze sculpture
as a life long pursuit.
Bickart's figurative bronze sculptures hold an enigmatic impression, both surreal and futuristic. His philosophy is based on random surreal experiences. "The indefinable moments in the human condition provide more imagery than bourgeois poses." Asexuality, apathy, anxiety are 20th century images. "I try to incorporate those symbolically with figurative surrealism through optical illusion, distortion, and a expressionist style." Bickart attempts to fuse our subconscious visuals with our aesthetic art sensibilities. "My work is often mistaken as being dark or sinister, yet I don't view those parts (surrealism and alienation) as being negative, it's just a description of the unusual sides of life that aren't traditionally portrayed in art, which I find just as enjoyable as the beautiful. In addition to surrealism, Bickart's work includes the use
of high-tech futuristic materials, such as graphite, hair, neon
and lasers. His inspirations come from Gustav Vigelands, Houdon,
Zuniga, Robert Graham, Francis Bacon, and Messerschmidt. |
Jonathan Bickart headed the sculpture
department at the Brentwood Art Center for fifteen years prior to
opening his own SCULPTURE STUDIO in Santa Monica, California. Bickart's
commissions include many notable portraits, including a bust of
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as monumental bronze sculptures.
Bickart completed a 14-foot Centennial Statue of Colonel Griffith
Jenkins Griffith on behalf of the Griffith Family Trust, which was
installed at the entrance of Griffith Park on November 23, 1996.
was awarded the "Mayor's Certificate of Commendation"
for this outstanding work of art that "will touch the lives
of many visitors to Griffith Park and is truly worthy of praise
and recognition".
Bickart designed and sculpted the Hope Award at the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Inter City Games Foundation. The award was first presented to former Mayor Bradley and Whoppi Goldberg for their support of the Foundation and is annually awarded to new recipients. Two bronze busts of Schwarzenegger were commissioned, one as a gift to Arnold. His clients include: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Kenny G;
Peter Guber; Marcie Carsie; Larry Cohen; Ted Kocheff; Fred Ward;
Inter City Games Foundation; Good Samaritan Hospital; Griffith
Park Trust; Rivera County Club, Mandalay Bay Hotel, National Congressional
Honor Monument, City of Los Angeles, City of Balboa, and numerous
private collectors. |
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