Sentinel by Matt Clark

Constructed from reclaimed metal, the sculpture reflects a quiet but unwavering presence, suggesting protection, watchfulness, and the ability to endure. The materials, once functional and now repurposed, carry a history that mirrors the deeper message of the work.

Clark’s art is rooted in the belief that powerful work engages the spirit. Rather than simply representing life, he interprets it through universal symbols, inviting viewers to see their own experiences reflected in the piece. In Sentinel, that invitation is grounded in themes of perseverance, identity, and the capacity to rise beyond limitation.

His artistic voice is inseparable from his personal journey. At seventeen, Clark experienced a life-altering spinal cord injury and was given little hope for the future. Choosing to define his life on his own terms, he rebuilt both his path and his purpose. Decades later, working from a wheelchair, he continues to create, adapting his tools and processes while channeling his experiences into his work.

Each sculpture begins with discarded metal objects that have outlived their original function. Clark studies their form and potential, reshaping them into something renewed and meaningful. This process reflects his own story, where brokenness becomes transformation. Through his work, he offers not just objects, but a perspective on resilience, purpose, and the power to transcend.

Website: mattclarksculpture.com

Previous Entries

Lilith – 2025

34 Lilith by Matt Clark 2025 — Lilith by Matt Clark

$32,000.00 – 9 feet tall – Created from steel, ancient volcanic stone, river stone, jasper, copper, high desert hardwood

Sponsored by Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Inquire about this piece

Burden – 2024

BURDEN by Matt Clark of St George, UT — **$35,000** made of metal and found objects 9’ X 6’ X 4.6’

One of the foundational elements of life is suffering. I created this sculpture to communicate that suffering, yet the figure is strong and will navigate the challenges. I changed the color to black.

Dixie Express – 2023

The small town in which I grew up had a tradition that early in the morning on Independence Day and the 24th of July, a live band would travel around town to kick off the celebration. My intent was to capture these memories in a whimsical, steam-punk style.

Steampunk Bell – 2022

A gear from a wheat-threshing machine that was more than 100 years old was the inspiration to create this steampunk-style bell. Growing up on a cattle ranch and farm, I was always intrigued with the machines that were used to harvest the crops. I had a lot of fun incorporating these old parts into this sculpture.

Desert Rat – 2021

Matt Clark 2021 video interview

Cacti – 2020

“Cacti” is 40 inches tall and 19 inches wide. It was created from quarter-inch steel and found metal objects. The steel was cut and then shaped on a hydraulic press. I was inspired to create this piece after studying Julio Gonzalez, who is known as the father of welded steel sculpture. He also taught Picasso, who welded 30 to 40 steel sculptures of his own.

Butterfly - 2019

Matt Clark
$6,000
2'x5'x2' In 2012 I was working on a show with the theme “Light and Dark.” I chose subjects that were dark, such as addiction, depression etc., and wanted to represent darkness balanced by light in each. At that time, my 23-year-old cousin died from heat stroke in the Grand Canyon. This led me to represent her in the darkness of death. To bring light to the piece, her form – her spirit, her soul – elevates off of the chair. The book is symbolic of her life’s quest to be a teacher. Ancient cultures saw a single butterfly as a deceased family member who assumes a physical presence to check on the living. My cousin is in the next life, while the brightly colored butterfly is from this world; in the light they recognize each other across that vail. The metal objects I use in my art were originally crafted to perform a specific function. Then at some point they were broken and discarded. My creative approach is to search for each piece’s innate power, and conceive of its new purpose when incorporating it into a sculpture. For me, the transformation of these discarded objects is a symbolic reenactment of my own life’s journey – of ultimately transcending broken dreams and heartache.
Origin - 2018

My piece for this year's Art Around the Corner outdoor sculpture gallery is called "Origin." Comprised of a number of the re-purposed objects that I love to work with, it depicts the creation of a world or planet.