Patrick Dougherty

I've seen images of Patrick Dougherty's work on more websites than I can possibly remember or mention, but I figured that one more post by one more person couldn't hurt. Made entirely out of tree saplings, Dougherty's site-specific shelter-like sulptures are visually stunning. I love the way these works, no matter how unusual and purely abstracted they may appear, always seem to fit so well into the landscapes and spaces where he creates them. I first saw Dougherty's work at the Penland School of Crafts, where he collaborated with architect Dail Dixon on the portico of the then newly-rennovated Pines dining hall. This sculpture is Dougherty's first permanent installation, which I think is especially nice because he made one of his very first pieces at Penland in 1985 and has had a connection to the school ever since. You can read a great article about this piece and an overview of Doughtery's work on Penland's website, here. In the last 20 years, Dougherty has built over 150 works thoughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Below are images of some of my favorite pieces, and you can learn more about Patrick Dougherty and his work on his website.

The Pines Portico, at the Penland School of Crafts, 2005.

Close Ties, Brahan Estate, Dingwall, Scottish Highlands, 2006

Cell Division, Savannah College of Art, Savannah, Georgia, 1998.

Childhood Dreams, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, 2007.

Around the Corner, University of Southern Indiana, New Harmony Gallery, New Harmony, IN, 2003.