David Phillips

Biography

David Phillips' prolific career spans four decades. The remarkable breadth of his artistic production encompasses public art, sculpture, functional objects and drawings. He is perhaps best known for his numerous art commissions throughout the United States, Japan, and South America incorporating bronze and stone. Locally his work can be seen at the Porter Square Station, Quincy Square near Harvard, the Boston Common Frog Pond and the Landsdown St. Quadrangle near MIT. Whether for large scale architectural projects or intimately scaled objects, Phillips' work is fueled by a lifelong study and appreciation of the natural world.

Phillips newest work consists of iron powder affixed to a surface, a unique technique he has been developing for the last two years.  These wall pieces use brushes, a miniature vacuum, and magnets to manipulate and reveal images in iron on a metal plate.

A graduate of Cranbrook Academy of Art, Phillips moved to Boston from Michigan in the early 1970's. He has received many awards including a Pollock-Krasner Grant, Macdowell Colony Residency, Coleman Award, Kohler Art and Industry Residency and Governor’s Design Award.

Iron Powder Wall Pieces

For three years I have been exploring a new series of wall pieces made of iron powder on metal plates (aluminum, brass, bronze).  The iron is sifted onto the metal and then manipulated from beneath using magnets.  Like my sculpture, these pieces are about materials, process, and discovery - a hybrid of metal properties.  My imagery comes from cellular structures, plant forms, and astronomy - micro and macro aspects of our universe.  The technique used is similar to mono print in that there is an aspect of accident and to wood block in that I register the metal plate, building as many as five layers.  Each delicate layer is fixed with sprayed lacquer.