Contemporary Stainless Steel Bird Sculptures & Bespoke Installations
Birds in Flight is an evolving collection of hand-formed stainless steel bird sculptures inspired by the movement, freedom and constantly changing patterns of birds in flight.
Each bird is individually created in my studio, with the metal cut, formed and worked by hand to capture a sense of movement without reproducing the bird too literally. Simplified silhouettes, sweeping wings and carefully considered negative space give the sculptures a contemporary character while retaining an immediate connection with the natural world.
Displayed individually or brought together in larger groups, the birds can create anything from an intimate sculptural detail to a dramatic architectural installation.
Sculpture shaped by movement and light
Stainless steel is central to the character of the collection. Its reflective surface responds continually to changing light, architecture and landscape, allowing the appearance of the birds to shift throughout the day and as the viewer moves around them.
The combination of solid metal and open space creates a feeling of lightness that contrasts with the permanence of the material. In larger installations, individual birds become part of a wider composition, creating rhythm and movement across a wall, through an atrium or within a landscape.
Different surface finishes can be used to alter the way the work interacts with its surroundings, from softer satin and hand-textured surfaces to highly reflective polished details.
Wall-mounted, suspended and freestanding sculpture
The collection can be developed in a variety of formats depending on the space.
Individual birds can be displayed as standalone sculptures, while groups can be arranged as wall-mounted artworks, freestanding compositions or suspended installations. Scale, spacing and direction can be adapted to work with the architecture of a particular setting.
Larger installations are particularly suited to:
Private residences and collections · luxury hotels and hospitality spaces · corporate headquarters and reception areas · atriums and stairwells · restaurants · contemporary gardens · sculpture parks · commercial developments
For interior projects, groups of birds can travel across walls or occupy otherwise unused vertical space. Suspended installations can create movement through double-height rooms and atriums, while exterior pieces allow polished stainless steel to contrast with planting, stone and changing skies.
Bespoke bird sculpture commissions
I work with private collectors, interior designers, architects, art consultants, hotels, businesses and property developers to create bespoke versions of the Birds in Flight collection.
A commission can be designed specifically around a wall, room, landscape or architectural feature. The number of birds, individual scale, composition, spacing, orientation, mounting method and finish can all be developed to complement the site and the client's requirements.
For larger projects, the birds can extend through an architectural space to create a distinctive focal point and a sense of movement through the building.
The modular nature of the collection also allows installations to be expanded, creating anything from a small group of birds to a substantial site-specific artwork.
Available work
Individual bird sculptures and smaller compositions are occasionally available through the website shop.
For larger wall-mounted, suspended, freestanding or site-specific installations, please contact me to discuss a bespoke commission.
To discuss a stainless steel bird sculpture for a private collection, hotel, business or architectural project, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.