Phil Lichtenhan - Bird Nest Sculptor with Finesse

 

As birds will use a variety of materials to construct their nests, artist Phil Lichtenhan has collected man made discards of our world to weave his nests. The sculptures—a combination of wire, barbed wire, steel banding, and other found objects—have developed a beautiful patina from the natural forces of time.

“I find my nest materials everywhere. Along the roadside, railroads, and alleyways,” says Phil. “Some of the nests I create are like birds’ nests in look and scale, others are more improbable in size and material choice.”

Our customers love the form and color of Phil’s exquisite nest sculptures and are intrigued by the visual/poetic contrast between the pristine eggs and the steel-woven nests. The hand fashioned high-fired clay eggs are glazed in a variety of ways producing natural and unnatural finishes and colors.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, Phil received his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona in 1981 and has developed dual careers as artist and teacher. In 2001 he left teaching to devote more time to producing his art. His work is collected privately, publicly and by corporations, including the Ansel Adams estate, the Tucson Museum of Art, and Norwest Bank.