Elderly Artist Thaddeus Mosley Continues Crafting Forest of Wood Sculptures at Age 98
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Meet Thaddeus 'The Wood Whisperer' Mosley, a 98-year-old artist hailing from Pittsburgh, whose monumental wood sculptures tower high above him, standing at around 5 feet and 3 inches. Despite their massive size and weight, Mosley seamlessly handles his creations with effortless grace, making them look dainty and almost ethereal. He prefers to work alone, occasionally using a small crane as his only occasional aid and shunning the idea of hiring a studio assistant.
His sizable studio, tucked away in an industrial building on the city's North Side, is a playground for his art in various stages of completion. With varying shades of cherry and walnut, some are smoothed by Mosley's practiced gouges, while others are stacked vertically, waiting for his skilled touch. The serene atmosphere of the studio, filled with his totem-like sculptures, evokes a sense of empty forest tranquility and mirrors Sam Gilliam's 2020 poem that affectionately termed Mosley the "keeper of the trees."
Mosley likens his art process to judo, explaining that it's about using an opponent's force effectively and masterfully. The concept translates to his carving style, where he learns the center of gravity, letting the weight of the wood define the forms he creates. This unconventional approach to art makes Mosley a legend in Pittsburgh, boasting a career that spans an impressive seven decades.
He has garnered widespread acclaim in recent years, having first exhibited his art at the Carnegie Museum of Art in 1968, received the Pittsburgh Center of the Arts' Artist of the Year award, and even landed an appearance on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. "Walking around with him is like walking around with Elvis," claims Brendan Dugan, founder of Karma, the New York-based gallery that has showcased Mosley's work since 2020.
Strangely, Mosley went unnoticed in the broader art world for many years. He has never partaken in major art events such as the Whitney Biennial, Documenta, or the Venice Biennale, and the Museum of Modern Art has never shown or collected his work. Following his exhibition in the 2018 edition of the Carnegie International, a prominent survey of contemporary art, Mosley's art has steadily gained recognition.
His recent exhibitions with Karma have been met with praise from critics, with the Times deeming the most recent one "spectacular." Institutional shows have followed suit, placing Mosley's art next to renowned sculptures by Alexander Calder, marking an exciting milestone for this gifted artist. His art has also started to enter museum collections, with the Whitney acquiring its first piece in 2024.
New York City Hall Park will host Mosley's latest showcase featuring giant bronze versions of his wood creations. The presentation, organized by the Public Art Fund, marks a long-overdue acknowledgment of Mosley's impact on the art world. Curators highlight Mosley as a cornerstone of Black artistic production, citing his enduring influence as an artist for over five decades.
Some of his captivating sculptures on display include a 15-foot-tall Gate III, allowing visitors to walk through its arch, and the more subtle Benin Strut, which mimics the appearance of outstretched wooden wings from the back of an elongated form. Mosley titled the show "Touching the Earth," reflecting his deep reverence for the materials he uses, calling it a new life for the trees he carves.
Mosley eschews traditional methods such as sketches and sanding, instead visualizing his sculptures in his mind before meticulously carving away until he achieves his desired outcome. If there is a knot or strange shape in the wood, he repurposes it and incorporates it into his final work. He uses chalk to mark his pieces but removes these lines if he changes his mind.
Once upon a time, Mosley would gather fallen trees and transport them to his studio, competing with others for the best pieces of wood. Nowadays, he purchases his materials from Pennsylvania sawmills with the proceeds from his art sales. He credits his rise to fame to Karma, the New York gallery that has represented him since 2020.
Mosley began his artistic journey in 1926 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, drawing inspiration from an encounter with Scandinavian design objects as a teenager. He moved to Pittsburgh, initially planning to study English and journalism at the University of Pittsburgh. While there, he took a world history course and was fascinated by images of Constantin Brancusi's modernist sculptures alongside African tribal art.
Mosley's work is deeply rooted in African art, and he continues to collect Chiwara masks and Dogon wooden pieces from Mali. This artistic connection allows him to explore form and balance to the deepest extent possible. To this day, Mosley maintains the same diligent work ethic that he learned from his coal-miner father and continues to create beautiful wooden sculptures that defy gravity and touch his visitors' hearts.
- Thaddeus 'The Wood Whisperer' Mosley, a contemporary artist and sculptor, has been captivating visitors with his towering wood sculptures for decades.
- Mosley's work has been gaining recognition in the art world, with recent exhibitions in prestigious galleries and museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum.
- This 98-year-old artist, who began his artistic journey in 1926, finds inspiration in African art and continously collects Chiwara masks and Dogon wooden pieces from Mali.
- Mosley's exhibit at New York City Hall Park, organized by the Public Art Fund, marks a significant milestone in his career, showcasing giant bronze versions of his wood sculptures.
- In his sizable studio, Mosley visuallyizes his sculptures in his mind before meticulously carving them, sometimes repurposing knots and odd shapes within the wood.
- The proceeds from Mosley's art sales allow him to purchase materials from Pennsylvania sawmills, following his earlier practice of gathering fallen trees to work on.
- With a career spanning seven decades, Mosley's work stands alongside renowned sculptures by artists like Alexander Calder, and his art is quickly gaining a place in various museum collections.
