Gil Bruvel is a Texas-based sculptor known for his large-scale sculptures depicting flowing lines with rigid materials. His sculptures, seen in the United States and internationally in China and Europe, explore the juxtaposition between fluidity and rigidity. His process explores the possibility of using materials in unexpected ways.
Bruvel was born in Australia, raised in the south of France, and influenced by surrealist artists like Salvador Dali, Max Ernst and Georgio de Chirico. His most recent series, Bending the Lines, began using rigid maple wood sticks to create flowing lines. This series morphed into depicting the human face in peaceful pixelated forms.
We sat down with Bruvel to discuss his inspiration, craft and artistic themes.
How do you create your pixelated forms?
The materials are wood sticks, glue, nails, paint and a torch because I burn the wood. I start at the bottom, layering the sticks one after the other to create the first layer. Once the first layer is dry, I pile up the sticks using a little clay model as a visual reference. Every time I create a face, I try to do different facial features, because I want to depict humanity, and it helps to have a visual reference for that. It also helps with proportions and keeping symmetry.
Where do you find inspiration?
Being an artist is always about gathering knowledge and learning as much as possible. I feel that inspiration comes first from the natural world – inspiration from nature is practically infinite. It is inspiring to understand patterns of nature and how things grow from things we see every day. Right now, my inspiration is exploring the human form through the face and infusing it with a sense of peace, so my audience can relate to it.
What do you do when you’re not inspired?
I know there is an idea that artists get a creative block, but I don’t experience that. From a very young age, I have done vipassana meditation which helps me tremendously through the creative process, and it also helps boost my creative energy.
What are your ideal working conditions?
I created my studio space on a compound outside of Wimberly. It is definitely in the countryside, which I relate to more than urban confinement. I have every tool I need in my studio, with workshops and space to create my art.
How has your work changed over time?
I want to discover new creative ways to create art and express myself. The sense of wonder one has as a child is essential, and I like to keep that feeling going. My father was a cabinet maker, so I grew up in a wood workshop which is why I am drawn to working with wood, but I work with many different materials, including metal and paintings. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I get to do what I love the most: create art.
What themes do you find most interesting?
Right now, it is definitely the morphology of the face – the expression of serenity and peace to recenter yourself and find a sense of balance. Essentially creating new forms and shapes is why the human face is such an inspiration for me.
"I want to discover new creative ways to create art and express myself. The sense of wonder one has as a child is essential, and I like to keep that feeling going." – Gil Bruvel