SCULPT | Patrick Hurst
Patrick Hurst (b. 1988) works primarily with metals to create large- and small-scale sculpture. His visual identity revolves around the minimal language of abstraction with a strong connection to geometry.
As Hurst has observed, “there is a strong similarity between the creative mind of the artist and the engineer.” Throughout his practice, Hurst employs manual machining, computer-aided design, and industrial manufacturing processes to transform the raw materials for his sculptures into highly-finished, tactile shapes. He is a skilled fabricator with a deep knowledge of and interest in material and process.
The artist applies mathematical laws when conceiving the shapes of his sculptures, and most of his work has a satisfactory sense of proportion derived from Euclidean geometry. He frequently uses mirror-polished surfaces to challenge viewers’ expectations of reality when they encounter their reflections in the artwork. Hurst’s sculptures are therefore informed both by the objective and the subjective realms: the first fueled by science and facts, the second by the emotional response of his audience.
Hurst’s artwork is in part a response to our divisive times. Through application of the universal languages of physics, geometry, and mathematics, Hurst seeks to create opportunities for shared understanding. As Cassie Beadle, curator at Cob Gallery, London, describes: “Hurst’s recent sculptural work seeks to condense and harness the complexities of ancient mathematics, human history, and its experience into pure form – Hurst urges us to question the universalities of human experience.”
Hurst graduated in 2011 from the Cardiff School of Art and Design in Wales, UK with a BA (Hons) Fine Art. After graduation, he returned to his native Cambridge and worked at Kettle’s Yard Gallery, home to an eclectic collection of 20th century British masters, before pursuing his passion for sculpture. His work has been shown at Masterpiece London and Eye of the Collector. The artist now lives and works in Italy.