Nathan Johansen looks to nature for the forms he uses in his work. Plants with their seeds, in all their various stages of development, are rich in symbols and patterns that repeat in all life. His deep sensitivity to the natural world is embodied in his depictions of the cycles of plants and seeds and their relationship to mankind. A lifelong resident of Utah, Nathan graduated with a BA in Fine Art from BYU. Nate has worked in the Art Casting field for over 30 years, coordinating Fine Art Casting at Metal Arts Foundry in Lehi, UT.
Website johansenstudios.weebly.com
Tree Phases Too – 2025
$12,000 – 6′ x 28″ x 18″ – bronze, steel
Sponsored by Vantage Real Estate
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Tree Phases Too is a depiction of several different developmental stages of a tree. The seed form at the bottom of the sculpture, has sprouted and is growing upward, encountering obstacles as it pushes through the soil, represented by the layered, cast shale. See the trunk of a mature tree, with its broadened, firmer foundation and the indication of cut off branches as well as the evidence of nails, driven in for some now, unknown purpose. The tree will send away the ripe, winged seed in the hope of perpetuation as it spirals back down to earth, to be buried in the soil ready to repeat this process all over again!
The depiction of earth layers are thin layers of actual shale stone while the sprout and seed were modeled in wood. For strength, all the parts were then molded and cast in bronze for insertion in the steel trunk.
Previous Entries
Cherry Bark Vessel – 2024
$5,800 – 24” X 17” X 9” – Bronze
This piece captures the wonderful natural curling of bark as it separates from a dead limb or the trunk of a cherry tree. Even in this final cycle of a cherry tree’s life, the very forms of death provide the beautiful, graceful form that is “Cherry Bark Vessel.”
Maple Seed – 2023
Maple trees are common in Utah. Every year these trees produce thousands of winged seeds that develop and grow until they are ripe and ready to fly away from the mother tree in a “whirly-bird” flying fashion. These flying seeds seek space somewhere in the earth to grow, to propagate the maple tree. “Maple Seed” is a sculptural expression of one of these winged, flying seeds. The part that grows is facing down, seeking purchase in suitable soil. This part of the seed is depicted with a green patina color, suggesting the promise of life. The wing portion is abstractly deteriorating and changing, its job complete. This portion has changed to brown, earthy tones, as it returns to Mother Earth.
Lithic Bird – 2022
This sculpture is part of my Lithic Art exploration, created by adapting the stone knapping techniques of primitive cultures. Bird shapes are common images and symbols in these cultures. The elegant lines of resting birds are rendered in this sculpture.
Utah Burr – 2021
