When Marianne and Scy Caroselli talk about art, the conversation moves effortlessly between memories, laughter, and the serene gravity of the craft. One story leads to another, recollections prompt corrections, jokes follow, and soon enough, another story begins. One thing quickly becomes clear: sculpture is more than a profession for the two of them. It’s a shared language.
For Scy (pronounced like “sky”), that connection started before she ever picked up clay herself. “I grew up in a little playpen next to my mom’s easel,” she recalls with a smile. “Art was always there. We were all models at some point. Sometimes we hated it. Mom would say, ‘Just hold the bucket like you’re feeding the horse. Don’t smile. Don’t move.’”
Marianne laughs at the memory, too, recalling a time decades earlier when her art career began. “At ten years old, that’s all I wanted to do,” she says. “I started my own little business painting ceramics. I was chosen as the class artist at high school graduation and went on to art school afterward. I’ve just been doing art ever since.”
After years devoted primarily to painting—traveling to art shows, selling her work, and building her reputation—Marianne eventually faced a practical decision: painting or sculpture. “I was doing both and getting tired,” she says. “So I had to decide. With sculpture, you can create an edition from one piece. From a business standpoint, that made sense.” That combination of artistic instinct and business savvy helped launch a successful career. One of her paintings, End of the Trail, became a best-selling poster, appeared on greeting cards, and continues to generate royalties decades later.
Over time, however, sculpture became Marianne’s true home. “I was at an art show where another featured artist was a sculptor,” she recalls. She says the medium has always had a definite allure. “You can get lost in it,” she says. “Hours go by, and you don’t even realize it.”
While building her career, Marianne also raised four children. After they went to bed, she would head to the garage studio and work until midnight. This creative atmosphere shaped Scy deeply. “I remember being amazed at what Mom could create,” she says. “She could just start sculpting, and suddenly this beautiful horse or figure would appear. I was always blown away by how fast and how good she was.”
Despite this influence, Scy wasn’t sure she wanted to take the same path. “I actually started out as an art agent,” she explains. “I sold art rather than making it. Mom kept encouraging me to sculpt, but I kept telling her, ‘You sculpt, I sell. We’ve got a good thing going here.’”
But Marianne didn’t give up. One Christmas, she handed her daughter a large box filled with clay and sculpting armatures. “She basically said, ‘I grew up in a sculpting family, and you should sculpt too,’” Scy says, laughing. “So I tried it.” Her first piece was a horse—a Clydesdale—inspired by her love of the breed. “I started sculpting. I was surprised at how much of it came naturally,” she says. “All those years of watching Mom must have stuck with me.”
A turning point came years later, when Marianne took Scy to Italy to study sculpture. “We stayed in Pietrasanta, where Michelangelo lived while working on David,” Scy says. “We even visited the marble quarries he used. Being surrounded by all that history—it was overwhelming in the best way.” That experience in Italy sealed her commitment: “That’s when I knew. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Now, both Marianne and Scy work in bronze, each developing a signature style. Marianne’s sculptures often capture joyful, lighthearted scenes of children at play, animals, or moments that evoke happiness and nostalgia. “I like to sculpt things that make people happy,” she says. “One woman told me she wakes up every morning, sees one of my sculptures, and it makes her smile. That meant a lot to me.” Scy’s work incorporates symbolism and often conveys deeper messages, particularly themes of empowerment and resilience. “I like creating pieces that inspire people,” she says. “Many of my sculptures focus on empowering women, showing perseverance, leadership, and strength.”
One of her most significant works, an eight-foot bronze sculpture called Transcendence, stands in the healing garden at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Colorado. The sculpture depicts a woman whose back is textured to represent life’s struggles, while the smooth front symbolizes perseverance. “It sits between the cancer center and the maternity ward,” Scy says. “The idea is that we go through hardships in life, but we rise above them.”
The emotional impact of that work became clear when she saw a photograph of a cancer patient standing beside the sculpture. “She had no hair. She looked very weak. But she stood up from her wheelchair and touched the sculpture,” Scy says. “If something I created can inspire even one person, that means everything.”
While their styles differ, their relationship remains close. “She’s my best friend,” Scy says warmly. “If I get tickets to go somewhere, she’s the first person I think of asking.” Constructive feedback flows freely, too. “I’ll send Mom a picture and ask, ‘What do you see wrong?’” Scy says. “She’ll say, ‘Twist it more. Add more movement.’” Marianne beams when she talks about her daughter’s work. “What I admire about Scy’s sculptures is the meaning behind them,” she says. “Mine make people smile. Hers touch people’s hearts.”
Behind every work, the casting process demands patience and precision. That stage can take weeks and involves highly skilled artisans. “It’s a long, complicated process,” she says. “But when you finally see the finished piece, it’s worth it.”
Managing a thriving art business requires more than creating sculptures. “We have sculptures in multiple galleries across the country,” Scy says. “So there’s a lot of paperwork and organization involved.” Marianne has spent years traveling to shows across the United States, building those connections. “You meet wonderful people,” she says. “Customers become friends.”
A career milestone arrived when Scy’s sales surpassed Marianne’s. “That was my dream,” she says. “My biggest happiness was when she outsold me. I thought, ‘Now I can relax.’” Scy laughs at that memory. “When people come into the booth looking at Mom’s sculptures, she’ll say, ‘Look at my daughter’s work,’ and send them over to my side,” she says.
Thinking of future artists, Marianne is encouraging, if also candid and direct. “Know what the public wants,” she says. “You have to make something people will fall in love with.” Meanwhile, Scy adds another perspective. “My advice is to keep going,” she says. “Don’t give up.” In the end, that’s what it’s about for both women: legacy and endurance. Scy reflects, “Long after we’re gone, the sculptures will still be there.”
In the case of Marianne and Scy Caroselli, those sculptures represent more than art. They represent a shared passion, a family legacy, and a bond forged over decades of creativity. Their work isn’t just sculpture. It’s the story of a family shaping something lasting together. “We’ve had so much fun doing this together,” Scy says. Marianne smiles, adding, “And she’s taken it even further.”
“Long after we’re gone, the sculptures will still be there—lasting reminders that art, family, and creativity can shape something meaningful that endures across generations.” —Scy Caroselli
Marianne and Scy Caroselli share more than a family bond—they share a lifelong devotion to sculpture. Marianne began her career as a painter before discovering bronze sculpture, eventually building a nationally recognized body of work known for joyful, expressive figures. Her daughter, Scy, grew up surrounded by art and later found her own path in sculpture after years working as an art agent. Today, both women create bronze pieces collected across the United States, ranging from gallery works to large-scale public installations. While Marianne’s sculptures often celebrate moments of happiness and nostalgia, Scy’s work frequently examines themes of perseverance and empowerment. Together, they preserve a creative legacy formed by decades of artistry, craftsmanship, and family connection.
Learn more at mcaroselli.com and scaroselli.com