My interview with Johnathan Bickart about the state of sculpture in Los Angeles and his eleven tips for how to make it as an artist can now be heard here:

[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/JonathanBickart-Scuptor/jonathan_bickart.mp3]

or click here for non-flash player!

About Jonathan Bickart from his website:

Jonathan Bickart, Sculptor, born 1959 in Phoenix, Arizona moved to Los Angeles, California in 1985. At the age of fourteen-figure drawing, portraits and sculpture cultivated Jonathan to a level of recognized scholastic achievement. After attending several art colleges, including Art Center of Design, Jonathan worked with Venice sculptor, Robert Graham. It was at that point that Jonathan committed exclusively to figurative bronze sculpture as a life long pursuit.

Bickart’s figurative bronze sculptures hold an enigmatic impression, both surreal and futuristic. His philosophy is based on random surreal experiences. “The indefinable moments in the human condition provide more imagery than bourgeois poses.”

Asexuality, apathy, anxiety are 20th century images. “I try to incorporate those symbolically with figurative surrealism through optical illusion, distortion, and a expressionist style.” Bickart attempts to fuse our subconscious visuals with our aesthetic art sensibilities. “My work is often mistaken as being dark or sinister, yet I don’t view those parts (surrealism and alienation) as being negative, it’s just a description of the unusual sides of life that aren’t traditionally portrayed in art, which I find just as enjoyable as the beautiful.

In addition to surrealism, Bickart’s work includes the use of high-tech futuristic materials, such as graphite, hair, neon and lasers. His inspirations come from Gustav Vigelands, Houdon, Zuniga, Robert Graham, Francis Bacon, and Messerschmidt.

Jonathan Bickart headed the sculpture department at the Brentwood Art Center for fifteen years prior to opening his own SCULPTURE STUDIO in Santa Monica, California. Bickart’s commissions include many notable portraits, including a bust of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as monumental bronze sculptures. Bickart completed a 14-foot Centennial Statue of Colonel Griffith Jenkins Griffith on behalf of the Griffith Family Trust, which was installed at the entrance of Griffith Park on November 23, 1996. was awarded the “Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation” for this outstanding work of art that “will touch the lives of many visitors to Griffith Park and is truly worthy of praise and recognition”.

Bickart designed and sculpted the Hope Award at the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Inter City Games Foundation. The award was first presented to former Mayor Bradley and Whoppi Goldberg for their support of the Foundation and is annually awarded to new recipients. Two bronze busts of Schwarzenegger were commissioned, one as a gift to Arnold.

His clients include: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Kenny G; Peter Guber; Marcie Carsie; Larry Cohen; Ted Kocheff; Fred Ward; Inter City Games Foundation; Good Samaritan Hospital; Griffith Park Trust; Rivera County Club, Mandalay Bay Hotel, National Congressional Honor Monument, City of Los Angeles, City of Balboa, and numerous private collectors.