Artist Vincent Pocsik: Transforming Perceptions Of Sculptor and Furniture

Artist Vincent Pocsik: Transforming Perceptions Of Sculptor and Furniture

By: Hillary Puckett

American artist Vincent Pocsik is having the time of his life transforming our perceptions of what furniture and sculpture can be. His newest series, On The Meridian – recently in an exhibition titled Works Of Sculpture 33at FF-1051 Gallery in Los Angeles and curated by Holly Purcell – features new work inspired by his recent residency with “Long Ago, Far Away” in Omaha, Nebraska, and is an ongoing exploration from his earlier beginnings as a sculptor by continually investigating the form, structure, and function of contemporary traditional furniture versus an avant- garde style of sculpting with wood and bronze.

Pocsik’s sociologically conscious sculptures are entirely made in Los Angeles, with all glass, metal, and upholstery work done by local craftsmen. Inspired by the desire to push the boundaries of mediums such as wood, glass, bronze, and metal so each transforms into an anatomical expression and presence of its own, Pocsik combines both old and new fabrication techniques to breathe new life into the materials while honoring their past. With new creations constantly emerging from his studio, Pocsik’s furniture as an art form has been receiving well deserved acclaimed recently.

Cool America sat down with the artist and designer to talk about his career thus far and his latest exciting series of works.

When did your interest within the arts begin?

I would say probably around 4 years old or so. My mom said that I used to create these vast “designs” with blocks on the ground to show my grand parents when they came over. I think I have always had the need to create, I am not one for sharing too much verbally so I suppose this is how I get things out. It started in music, when I was young I played guitar in several bands. From there it went to art then architecture and back to art.

Why did you choose sculpting over other forms of art?

Sculpting is the most physical of the arts for me, beyond dancing of course. It requires a great deal of stress on your body. I like the pains that come along with making a piece of work.

How do you select your materials?

I have always had an attraction to natural materials, so I usually stick within that realm such as wood, bronze and stone. I really have no attraction to use synthetic material such as plastic and resin. I think that other people do amazing things with these materials, but they do not speak to me in the same way. I need to be able to understand a material so I work with what I can communicate with.

How did your most recent residency inspire your current exhibition, “Works of Sculpture, 33′?

My recent residency in Omaha really inspired me to trust in my own capabilities. I had the ideas already in place for the work that I showed at Works of Sculpture, 33. What the residency provided for me was a belief that I had the understanding of the materials which I would with to be able to portray these ideas.

Which sculptors and artists inspire you the most?

Berlinde de Bruyckere work has had a fairly large impact on me. There is such a strong understanding of life in her work. Whenever I look at it, it pushes me to strive to even have an ounce of that in my own.

Can you describe your technique and what has influenced your work?

My technique to create the work is a mix between both an analog and digital approach. There are certain boundaries that I wish to push which digital allows me to do, but I believe there are many things that need to be done by a persons hand’s alone. The balance between these two things is what I think makes the work more interesting. Its end result is a contemporary object that is pushing formal boundaries, yet something that still has life and richness within it. The influence on these techniques comes from my mixed background within architecture, art and my experiences with various manual labor jobs.

How has your California upbringing and subsequent education influenced your creative process?

I was actually raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I think that Cleveland did certainly give me a lot of influence which I took and combined with the influences I get in California. I think that some parts of my work can have a heavier side to it; this I think is from my upbringing in Cleveland. I think Cleveland gave me a thicker skin than if I would have been raised in California. There is something about the harsh weather and those gloomy days which brings a different look on life. Being in California now I am able to get influenced by all of the amazing nature by way of sea and land. I am grateful I can view it from a different set of eyes than if this was all I knew though.