“I’ve probably been doing sculpture all my life,” says Scott Osborne, a Colorado native and Boulder-based artist.
Leaving a background in international business and the fashion industry, Scott's true passion lies in creating with his hands. For more than two decades, he has dedicated himself to his artistic pursuits in the studio.
Scott's name recently made local headlines when he donated a piece to the Museum of Boulder, but he prefers to keep the focus on his art rather than himself.
The sculpture, dedicated just this summer, is a storied work created in remembrance of the ten lives lost during the King Soopers shooting that devastated the Boulder community in 2021.
Amidst the pandemic, Scott faced the loss of his mother as well as the loss of his art studio and many materials—just two days apart from each other. Among the rubble, lay the base of the original memorial sculpture he’d been working on.
“Working on the sculpture,” he says, “kept me thinking and going in a positive direction.” The loss was devastating, but ever-resilient, Scott began to rebuild immediately. He established himself in a new space just two miles north of the city where he continued his work.
Now, the finished sculpture adorns the corner of Broadway and Pine Street in front of the Museum.
The piece is simple at first glance, yet dramatically precise with sharp lines and clean edges exhibiting a mathematical complexity. Its rusted brown sides support a polished, reflective top glistening upwards towards the sky. The sandblasted cubed base is etched with the names of those lost.
“I had this vision of these perfect facets, kind of like a gemstone with a rough exterior but then making it look as though it had been cut in half or broken where you see what’s on the inside,” Scott says. Ten facets were crafted in honor of each life lost during the shooting.
He recalls hearing the sirens of the first responders for hours. The aftermath of the incident brought the community together in a way that moved him. “I wanted to give something of beauty to the community,” he says. “Because if we forget things like this, there will never be change.”
The final sculpture was brought to the Museum in June of this year. Scott installed the piece himself.
Preferring to work in solitude and often at the commission of private clients, this is his first work of art to be on public display. For Scott, the location of his sculptures is less important than the integrity of the artwork.
In the wake of such loss, he feels power in coming together as a community to offer hope for a better way forward. “It was an honor to do this,” he says.
There’s an inspiring depth to the passion that exudes from Scott's gentle demeanor. A still strength can be felt in his voice—a delicate pairing of quiet passion and creative energy.
Pulling from his experience in fashion, design and architecture, his work is an amalgamation of various inspirations into original, expressive forms. His artistic philosophy follows the idea that less is more, creating timeless designs with geometric precision where sharp, clean lines meet crisp edges.
His favorite material to work with is statuario, a smooth white stone imported from Italy. “It’s a clear marble,” he explains. “Almost pure light.”
Originally from Colorado, Scott spent time living abroad in Melbourne and Cairo where he was inspired by the variety of architecture and design elements that contribute to his artistic vision today. After many years in the corporate world, he’s happy to have returned stateside and dedicate his energy to the artist that was always within.
Looking ahead, Scott intends to continue his work, bettering himself and his skill. “I just want to keep creating,” he states. “Art is about contributing to something bigger.”
His message is simple yet carries a profound depth.
It’s Scott's desire that his art speaks beauty to people, offering a positive message of inspiration and optimism, inviting people to a deeper level of thought and consideration.
He acknowledges the level of courage required to create. Scott shares that when it comes to art, not everyone will like it, but that’s not the point. He directs his focus on the artistic expression and connection with those who find something positive in it.
“Art is for the people who enjoy it,” Scott says. “It’s about creating beauty for beauty’s sake.”
Scott Osborne's memorial sculpture can be viewed at the Museum of Boulder on Broadway, standing in honor of those who will never be forgotten, inspiring a community that came together in hard times, and calling for an optimistic way forward.
Boulder-based sculpture artist, Scott Osborne, reflects on his design philosophy, creative inspiration, and motivation for dedicating a memorial artwork to honor his community.
“Art is for the people who enjoy it. It’s about creating beauty for beauty’s sake.”
