Fractured

Contemporary Abstract Garden Sculpture

Jesmonite, resin and gold leaf on solid oak plinth
Private garden commission
Similar bespoke commissions from approximately £5,000

Fractured is a bespoke abstract sculpture created for a private collector, inspired by rock formations, geological pressure and the cracks and fissures created through natural processes over time.

The sculpture was designed specifically for the client’s garden and to complement the restrained, contemporary architecture of their home. Its simplified geometric form reflects the property’s minimalist character, while the fractured surface introduces something more organic and unpredictable.

The result is a piece that sits between landscape and architecture — substantial enough to create a focal point, but deliberately understated in its form and palette.

Inspired by geological form

The starting point for Fractured was my interest in the way stone records pressure, movement and erosion.

Rather than reproducing a particular rock formation, I used these geological processes as a basis for developing the form. Fine cracks break across the surface, disrupting an otherwise controlled shape and creating contrast between strength and fragility, permanence and change.

Selected fissures are highlighted with resin and gold leaf, drawing attention to the breaks rather than disguising them. The treatment references ideas associated with repair and transformation while allowing the cracks to become an intentional part of the sculpture’s identity.

Designed specifically for the client

The commission began with drawings and a series of maquettes, allowing different proportions, forms and surface treatments to be explored before the final design was agreed.

This stage is particularly useful for private commissions, giving the collector an opportunity to understand how a proposed sculpture will work before full-scale fabrication begins.

The architecture and landscaping of the property also informed the development of the piece. Its clean form was deliberately chosen to sit comfortably alongside the contemporary minimalist style of the house rather than compete with it.

From clay model to finished sculpture

Once the design was approved, the sculpture was first created by hand as a full clay model.

A silicone mould was then taken from the original and the final form cast in Jesmonite. After casting, the sculpture was individually reworked by hand to refine its surface and fracture patterns.

Colour and depth were introduced using resins, with selected details finished in gold leaf. This combination creates subtle variations across the surface and allows individual fissures to catch the light.

The completed sculpture is mounted on a solid oak plinth, providing a warm natural contrast to the pale sculptural form.

Bespoke sculpture for contemporary homes and gardens

Fractured demonstrates how a commissioned artwork can be developed specifically around both a client’s interests and the architecture of their property.

I create bespoke sculpture for private collectors, contemporary homes, gardens, landscaped spaces and interior projects, working with clients to develop pieces that feel individual to their setting.

A commission can begin with an existing theme within my work or with an entirely new idea. Scale, material, colour, surface finish and display can then be developed in response to the intended location.

Similar bespoke commissions currently start from approximately £5,000, depending on scale, materials and complexity.

To discuss a sculpture for a private home, garden or collection, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.