dancer sculpture

This stunning mask of two dancers is created by Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family. They are costumed in traditional garb for the Janger dance, a popular social dance that originated in the 1920s in Bali. The dance is performed by a group of male dancers, or kecak, and a group of female dancers, or janger. The artisan carves the mask from native suar wood and paints it in colorful detail to carry on the extraordinary art work of her late father, Nyoman Subrata.

Hand-carved from sese wood and given a black finish, an African woman dances. Ghanaian artisan Felix Senyor designs and crafts this wall sculpture.

Inspired by the cultural tradition of Janger dancing, Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family creates this stunning wall sculpture. Working with a single piece of suar wood, she hand carves the image of two dancers in elaborate headdresses who touch cheeks. Popular with Balinese youths, Janger is typically performed by ten people who are divided into two groups: the female dancers, known as Janger, and the male dancers, known as Kecak.

The artisan carries on the extraordinary art work of her late father, Nyoman Subrata.

Painted by hand in warm, happy colors, three images of Kokopelli dance and play a song for the sun. A prehistoric image, this deity is usually depicted with a humped back, playing a flute. Legends suggest Kokopelli was a Toltec trader who traveled from central Mexico to the southwestern deserts and mountains of the U.S.; there he is featured in the form of rock art dating back thousands of years. Alejandro de Esesarte depicts him in a handcrafted wall sculpture.

Because each piece is individually hand-crafted and painted, size and color could vary slightly.

Painted by hand in warm, happy colors, three images of Kokopelli dance and play a song for the sun. A prehistoric image, this deity is usually depicted with a humped back, playing a flute. Legends suggest Kokopelli was a Toltec trader who traveled from central Mexico to the southwestern deserts and mountains of the U.S.; there he is featured in the form of rock art dating back thousands of years. Alejandro de Esesarte depicts him in a wall sculpture and hammers the piece into low relief.

Because each piece is individually hand-crafted and painted, size and color could vary slightly.

Peeking through jungle vines, a lithe wood sprite dances with angelic grace. Tay Nontawat brings Thai legends to life in a superbly carved relief panel. He adds subtle color to the teak wood wall sculpture.

A myriad shades of blue conjure a cool and soothing universe in this elegant nierika, or votive beadwork painting by Kupihaute. Scorpions scuttle purposefully around the center of the composition, which takes the shape of a flower with five wide petals.

The artist, who writes fluently in the Huichol, Nahuatl and English languages, talks about this work in his own words. "From the focal center of the nierika, the precious flower arises in spiral movement as the culminating expression of the deepest roots. The blossom is keeping in its entrails the seed that will disseminate the power of creative energy. This is symbolized by the scorpions that, in their wonderful body symmetry, show the essence of the power itself, since any imbalance in its mating dance, any missing the target, will cause its own poisoning and thus its own death. Therefore the symbol of cosmos, of order is shown in their mouths and the tails."

The intricate images are formed with tiny seed beads. Kupihuate patiently places them one at a time with a needle made of abalone shell onto a huanacaxtle wood backing. Beeswax is used instead of glue.

The process is totally spontaneous, with no previous sketch or design. It is guided by the artist's unconscious to tell the stories that remain in our collective ancestral memory. He signs his work with the symbol of a butterfly on the reverse side of the nierika.

Carved and painted by hand, this wood wall sculpture from Ghana's Robert Aidoo Taylor features a man playing a dondo drum. The dondo drum, also known as the "talking drum," can be played in such a way that it seems to mimic human speech.

Atop a traditional African throne stool, two long horns cross each other. Ghanaian artisan Winfred Korley creates this cultural wall sculpture, which is hand-carved from a single piece of sese wood. The throne stool is painted with a metallic gold finish while the horns feature a rustic aesthetic.

This remarkable wood relief panel transforms any wall into a gallery of natural artistry with its mesmerizing Tree of Life motif that seems to breathe through delicate openwork carving. The weathered finish tells stories of time and craftsmanship while every twisted branch and delicate leaf has been meticulously carved by hand. Encased within its perfect circular boundary, Indian artisan Shashi Moza’s creation commands attention with its intricate negative spaces that dance between solid wood and air, creating a dynamic interplay of texture and form.

Beating a drum that she wears attached to her chest, an African drummer plays a traditional rhythm. Ghanaian artisan Baba Jamal creates this wall sculpture, which he hand-carves from sese wood. Embossed aluminum accents add the drummer's traditional clothing.

Crafted by hand from pinewood, this dark-toned wall panel with a rustic finish is a unique addition to your home decor. Chico Mendoza of Guatemala depicts two graceful angels flying while playing their trumpets. The background of this beautiful piece features a sinuous floral motif.