Collection: Doellinger, Mick

Mick Doellinger strives to capture the essence of the animals he sculpts. He hopes viewers will connect with the sculptures, noticing the subtle nuances of the shape, motion, or character in each piece.

Doellinger believes his time in the field studying the subjects and the environments they occupy is critical to his creative process. He has spent his entire life working with and around animals.   This lifelong accumulation of hands-on knowledge has given him unique insights into the anatomy, movements, and behavior of his subjects. “For me, it’s less about creating a perfect replica of the animal, and more about sculpting a narrative or moment in time,” he says.

From his first terracotta sculpture in 1967 of an aboriginal man to bronzes of kangaroos, longhorn steers, European red stags, Alaskan moose, and African rhinos, Doellinger continues to be inspired by new possibilities. He feels his best years are still ahead.

“My earlier work was much more literal, but over time I’ve preferred to not ‘overwork’ the clay,” he explains. “With this looser style, collectors 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.”