William King is a keen observer of human experience. His sculptures can be amusing or acerbic, combining wit and satire in a choreography of social affectations and gestures. Recently King has been working with fabrics such as Naugahyde, burlap, and vinyl, which he fashions loosely, sews together, and attaches to metal armatures. In a 2011 exhibition at the University of Florida, these lanky male figures (possibly self-portraits) stood attentively or slouched in various stances. The intention may be humorous or not, but the effect is truly startling. Having worked previously in cast bronze and carved wood, King takes command of these soft materials, employing them with a skill and energy that extends traditional sculptural methods to innovative forms. His other recent works include “Etruscan Days,” a series of remarkable bronze figure groups…see the entire article in the print version of October’s Sculpture magazine.
