Artist Statement
Animals with off-beat, eccentric personalities are the stars of my current large scale, one-of-a-kind bronzes. My series of bench sculptures in St. Petersburg invite all who pass by to share a seat and take photos with a life-sized alligator woman wearing alligator shoes and an armadillo purse, or a bronze pelican in a pink flamingo shirt, or an elephant wearing roller skates with square wheels. These realistic, highly detailed pieces are brought to life with multi-colored patinas.
I want my sculptures to say, "Don't take life too seriously." I'm happy if I can help people find a little levity in life. My greatest reward is seeing these whimsical caricatures bring smiles and laughter to adults and children alike.
Artist Bio
Mike Elwell (b. 1942) is a bronze artist born in Wichita, KS and based in St. Petersburg, Florida. For forty years he has created satirical bronze sculptures for public display. Today, his large, eccentric animal bronzes that line the sidewalk of Beach Drive have become iconic representations of the St. Petersburg art scene.
Elwell's art career began in the early 1970's, while he was working as a district judge. A wood carver friend of Elwell's developed Parkinson's disease and was no longer able to carve. Elwell suggested making molds of his works and casting them in bronze, though neither man knew how to cast. Elwell started learning by building a small foundry in Lawrence, Kansas.
This was the start of the Ox Bow Foundry and Gallery, a commercial casting business that Elwell ran until 2010. The foundry gave Elwell the freedom to make his own molds and cast whimsical bronze sculptures that were more offbeat than the mainstream bronzes of the time. Ox Bow also gave Elwell the opportunity to trade with and collect a significant number of works from other regional sculptors.
Alongside running the Ox Bow Foundry, Elwell renovated a historical building in Lawrence, KS in 1972. This became Abe and Jake's Landing and Sculpture Garden, a venue that still exists today.
Elwell became an important part of the art scene not just in Kansas, but in Colorado, where he spent summers. He has been director of the Kansas Sculpture Association, President of the Lawrence Art Center, and a member of the International Sculpture Center. Major commissions include works in the Douglass County Courthouse, University of Kansas, Alvamar Country Club, and the Wire Building in Lawrence, KS. His artwork has been shown in the Conquistador Gallery in Taos, NM, the Columbine Gallery in Aspen, CO the Margolis Gallery in Vail, CO, the Ingham Gallery in Crested Butte, CO, the Fourth National Bank Gallery in Wichita, KS, and the Red Cloud Gallery in St. Petersburg, FL. Finally, Elwell has participated in the prestigious Loveland Colorado Sculpture Show, “Sculpture in the Park” for fifteen years, and the Loveland Invitational Sculpture Show for twelve. other exhibition highlights include Best in Show at the Crown Center Regional Art Show in Kansas.
Artist Resume
Mike Elwell
elwell20@gmail.com // 785-766-8211
175 1st St. S., Unit 2307, St. Pete, FL, 33701 // www.elwellbronzeart.com
Education
1964 - B.A., Political Science, University of Kansas
1967 - Juris Doctor, University of Kansas
Professional Experience
-1969-1975 - District Attorney
-1972-1985 - District Judge
-1972-2010 - Owner of Ox Bow Foundry and Gallery, Lawrence, KS
-1991-2010 - Owner of Abe and Jake’s Landing and Sculpture Garden, Lawrence, KS
-2010-2011 - Owner of Elwell Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL
-2011-2012 - Artist at Salt Creek Studio, St. Petersburg, FL
-2012-2015 - Artist at Foundry Studio, St. Petersburg, FL
Professional Associations
-President of Lawrence Art Center
-Founder of Annual Lawrence Art Center Art Auction
-Member of International Sculpture Center
-Director of Kansas Sculptors Association
Exhibitions Juried
-Kansas State High School Art Competition
-Downtown Lawrence Outdoor Sculpture Competition
Collections and Commissions
-"Leadership" - Douglass County Courthouse
-"Jay Hawk" - University of Kansas
-"Covey Rise" - Alvamar Country Club
-"Abe and Jake" - Wire Building - Lawrence, KS
-Elephant (“Money Talks”), Alligator ("Let's Talk”), Pelican ("Catching Some Rays”), Frog (“The Prince”) - Beach Drive - St. Petersburg, FL
Select Exhibitions and Galleries
-c. 1985 - Crown Center Regional Art Show (Best in Show)
-1987-2002 - Loveland Colorado Sculpture Show, “Sculpture in the Park”
-1990 - 2002 - Loveland Invitational Sculpture Show
-Conquistador Gallery - Taos, NM
-Alaskan Shop - Vail, CO
-Columbine Gallery - Aspen, CO
-Margolis Gallery - Vail, CO
-Ingham Gallery - Crested Butte, CO
-Fourth National Bank Gallery - Wichita, KS
-Red Cloud Gallery - St. Petersburg, FL