LONGHORN SKULL ( crâne de cheval)

Né en Allemagne et élevé en Australie, Mick Doellinger vit aux États-Unis depuis 2003.

Mick a passé toute sa vie à travailler avec des animaux, d'une manière ou d'une autre, et cette accumulation de connaissances pratiques tout au long de sa vie lui a donné un aperçu unique de l'anatomie, des mouvements et du comportement de ses sujets.

Grâce à de nombreuses années de pratique en tant que cowboy professionnel spécialiste du rodéo, boucher, gestionnaire de la faune et guide animalier, Mick estime que le temps passé sur le terrain à étudier les animaux et leur environnement, est essentiel à son processus créatif.

Dès ses premiers souvenirs, Mick a été attiré par l'art (en plus de sa fascination pour les animaux et les lieux sauvages).   À l'âge de 11 ans, il a créé sa première sculpture (un aborigène en terre cuite), mais il a passé les 40 dernières années à se concentrer sur la sculpture d'animaux.  De la sculpture plus "scientifique" de forms ou mannequins utilisés dans l'industrie de la taxidermie à la création de bronzes d'art, les sujets de Mick couvrent le monde entier et mettent en évidence ses intérêts variés.        

Mes premières œuvres étaient beaucoup plus réalistes, mais avec le temps, j'ai préféré ne pas "sur travailler" l'argile.   Avec ce style plus souple, les gens continuent à remarquer quelque chose qu'ils n'avaient pas vu auparavant, même s'il ne s'agit que d'une empreinte partielle ou d'une tache.  Ces légères "imperfections" rappellent le processus de sculpture manuelle, figé dans le bronze fini.

Les œuvres de Doellinger sont exposées dans des musées, des galeries et des collections privées du monde entier et ont été publiées dans des revues telles que Western Art & Architecture, Sporting Classics, Art of the West, Fine Art Connoisseur et Western Art Collector. 

Il est membre élu de la National Sculpture Society, de la Society of Animal Artists et du California Art Club.    

Mick espère que les spectateurs de ses œuvres se sentiront concernés par les sculptures d'une manière ou d'une autre, qu'ils "ressentiront l'essence de l'animal" et qu'ils remarqueront les nuances subtiles de la forme, du mouvement et du caractère de chaque pièce.

“ Pour moi, il s'agit moins de créer une réplique parfaite de l'animal que de sculpter un récit ou un moment dans le temps.”

Born in Germany and raised in Australia, Mick Doellinger has called the United States home since 2003.

Mick’s entire life has been spent working with animals in some capacity, and this life-long accumulation of hands-on knowledge has given him unique insights into the anatomy, movements and behavior of his subjects.    From his many years of rodeo, commercial butchering, wildlife management & guiding, Doellinger believes his time in the field, studying the subjects & environments they occupy, is critical to his creative process.   

From his earliest memories (along with a fascination for animals & wild places) Mick was drawn to art.   At the age of 11, he created his first sculpture (a fired terracotta Aboriginal), but he has spent the last 40 years focused on sculpting animals.  From the more “scientific sculpting” of mannikins used in the taxidermy industry, to now solely immersing himself in the creation of fine art bronzes, Mick’s subjects span the globe and highlight his varied interests.        

“My early work was much more literal, but over time I’ve preferred to not ‘overwork’ the clay.   With this looser style, people will continue to notice something they hadn’t seen before, even if it’s just a partial fingerprint or smudge.  These slight ‘imperfections’ are a reminder of the hands-on sculpting process, kept frozen in the finished bronze.”

Doellinger’s work can be seen in museums, galleries and private collections around the world and he has appeared in publications such as Western Art & Architecture, Sporting Classics, Art of the West, Fine Art Connoisseur and Western Art Collector. 

He is an elected member of the National Sculpture Society, the Society of Animal Artists and the California Art Club.    

Mick hopes viewers of his work will connect with the sculptures in some way; “feeling the essence of the animal” and notice the subtle nuances of the shape, motion & character in each piece.

“For me, it’s less about creating a perfect replica of the animal, and more about sculpting a narrative or moment in time.”

Mick Doellinger / CV Highlights

Awards:

* 2024 - Bronze Medal - National Sculpture Society / 91st Annual Juried Exhibition      

* 2023 - Bronze Medal - Animal Art Paris Exhibition / Paris France

* 2023 - Marion & Gilbert Roller Memorial Award  - National Sculpture Society / 90th Annual Juried Exhibition      

* 2023 - People’s Choice - National Sculpture Society / TX–OK Juried Exhibition 

* 2022 - Award for Most Outstanding & Creative 3D Work  -Society of Animal Artists / 62^nd Annual Exhibition 

* 2021 - Bob Kuhn Wildlife Award - Autry Museum / Masters of the American West Exhibition / Los Angeles, CA

* 2020 - Gold Metal Sculpture Award  - Autry Museum / Masters of the American West Exhibition 

* 2020 - Marion & Gilbert Roller Memorial Award  - National Sculpture Society / 87^th Annual Juried Exhibition      

* 2019 - Award of Excellence  - Society of Animal Artists / 59^th Annual Juried Exhibition   

* 2019 - Artists Choice  - Briscoe Museum Night of Artists Exhibition  / San Antonio, TX

* 2014 - Award of Excellence - NatureWorks / Tulsa, OK   

* 2012 - Award of Excellence  - Hiram Blauvelt Museum / Society of Animal Artists / 52^nd Annual Exhibition   

* 2012 - Purchase Award  - Hiram Blauvelt Museum / Society of Animal Artists / 52^nd Annual Exhibition

* 2010 - John Spring Art Founder Award  - National Sculpture Society / 77^th Annual Exhibition   

* 1999 - Excellence in Sculpture Award - Walk on the Wildside Exhibition / Victoria, Australia  

* 1998 - Kodak Award - Wildlife Art Society of Australasia / Melbourne, Australia  

* 1997 - Best Animal - Queensland Wildlife Art Society Exhibition/ Brisbane, Australia 

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Museum Collections:

* 2023 - Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum / Cuero, TX       “Headin’ North” – life sized longhorn steer

* 2022 - Briscoe Western Art Museum / San Antonio, Texas          “Annoyed” - Alaskan Moose  

* 2021 - Booth Museum / Cartersville, Georgia                               “The Getaway” -  Whitetail Deer

* 2017 - Wonders of Wildlife Museum / Springfield, Missouri         “Brute Force” - Black Rhino  

* 2012 - Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum / Oradell, New Jersey           “In the Shadows” - Kudu  

* 2010 - Bennington Center for the Arts / Bennington, Vermont    “Old Lonesome” - Bison   

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Public Art:

*  2023 - St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office / St. Lucie, FL “K-9 Service” 1.25 life sized Malinois dog

*  2019 - Punahou School / Honolulu, Hawaii  “Sparky” 1.25 life sized sitting lab   

*  2018 - Bolen Public Safety Complex / Fort Worth, Texas    “K-9 Service” 1.25 life sized Malinois dog   

*  2015 - University of Texas Golf Club / Austin, Texas “Headin’ North” life size longhorn steer     

*  2015 - University of Houston Stadium / Houston, Texas “Coach Bill Yeoman”  8ft  football coach    

*  2006 - Crowley Deer Crossing / Crowley, Texas  “Airborne” 1.5 life sized white tail   

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Professional Associations:

* California Art Club / Elected - SIGNATURE MEMBER    

* National Sculpture Society / Elected - FELLOW

* Society of Animal Artists  / Elected - SIGNATURE MEMBER

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Media:

* Art Dealer Diaries Podcast  Dr. Mark Sublette with Mick Doellinger: Wildlife Sculptor / Feb 2023 : Episode 232

* Autry Museum YouTube: A Conversation with Masters of the American West Artist Mick Doellinger – 

“Hands On - from the Inside Out” / Feb 2022

* Booth Museum YouTube:  Evening Lecture with Executive Director Seth Hopkins and sculptor Mick Doellinger 

/ Nov. 2021         

* Southwest Art - “Animal Magnetism”  Dec/Jan 2020 : 46 – 51  - Norman Kolpas

* Art of the West - “My Best Years Are Still Ahead”   Mar/Apr 2018 : 40 - 45 - Sara Gilbert Frederick

* Sporting Classics - ART   Jan/Feb 2017 : 84 – 88 – Todd Wilkinson

* Western Art & Architecture - “Beauty in the Beasts”  Feb/Mar 2016 :132 - 135 - Christy Nielson 

* Contemporary Art of Nature MAMMALS – E. Ashley Rooney / Schiffer Publishing / Feb 2014: pg. 124 - 125 

* Contemporary Art of the Southwest – E. Ashley Rooney / Schiffer Publishing / Feb 2013: pg. 180-181 

* Art of the West – feature / “A Work in Progress”  Jan/Feb 2013 : 52-57 - Mary Nelson

* Western Art Collector / “Essence of the Wild” – Collecting Wildlife Art   Sept 2012 : 70-72

* Southwest Art / Show Preview - WhistlePik Galleries - Sept 2012 : 44-45 - Norman Kolpas

* Urban Home / “Hill Country Sculpture Gardens” – June/July 2011 : 80

* Western Art Collector / “Timeless Beauty” – Collecting Western Sculpture / July 2011 : 91-105

* Western Art Collector  / “Wild Kingdom”   Sept 2010 : 86-92

* Wildlife Art - feature / “A Unique Road to Sculpting - Australian-Style” / July - Aug 2007 : 34-38

* Guns and Game -  feature / “From Clay to Bronze” / Apr-Jun 1999 – issue 22