Brass and Hand Painted Paper Mache Owl Sculpture, Sergio Bustamante, 1970's

A rare and monumental owl sculpture by Mexican master artist Sergio Bustamante, standing an impressive 31 inches tall. This striking owl beautifully synthesizes everything Bustamante is celebrated for: a brutalist brass body composed of hand-applied brass feather plates, paired with a hand painted, vibrant papier-mâché face, 

The contrast is pure Bustamante magic ~ weight and delicacy, metal and paper, seriousness and whimsy, resulting in a piece that feels at once sculptural and soulful. The owl perches gracefully on a brass rod and weighted base, giving the impression of quiet balance and alert observation, as if caught mid-thought.

This example is unsigned, which is not uncommon for Bustamante’s studio works from this period. It was acquired directly from the artist’s studio in Mexico in the late 1970s by an architect and his wife (among other pieces). Bustamante was actively producing and selling work directly from his studio during this period following his international rise in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Equally at home in a serious modernist interior or an eclectic, art-forward space, this owl brings a sense of joy, humor, and personality. A reminder that great design, and folk art doesn’t always have to take itself too seriously.

A standout addition for collectors of mid-century modern, studio craft, or Latin American design, and a perfect conversation piece for those who appreciate art with both gravitas and charm.

Works well alongside & appeals to collectors of: Pedro Friedeberg, Mathias Goeritz, Carlos Mérida, Aldo Londi / Bitossi, Marcello Fantoni, Los Castillo, Line Vautrin, and Brutalist & Studio Craft Sculpture.