2023
Steel
5.5 ft x 6.5 ft x 4 ft

Mantis in the Meadow is a contemporary steel sculpture that captures a moment of stillness and alertness in the natural world. Depicting a stylized praying mantis perched among plant-like forms, the work blends organic inspiration with industrial materials. Gently curving stems rise around the insect, supporting red spherical fruit, while a textured bed of flowers spreads out beneath, anchoring the scene. The praying mantis, both delicate and poised, is rendered with a sense of quiet tension, evoking the insect’s graceful presence and predatory awareness.

Constructed entirely of steel, the sculpture balances strength with intricacy, using the material’s durability to highlight the fragility and complexity of the natural forms it portrays. The interplay of form and negative space invites viewers to move around the piece, discovering new relationships between the mantis, the plants, and the surrounding environment. Mantis in the Meadow draws attention to the beauty of often-overlooked creatures and moments in nature, transforming a fleeting scene into a lasting, contemplative experience.