“Whimsical wildlife that has to be taken seriously.” — Josh Tobey

Sculpture, first and foremost, is about shape and form. This mantra was Josh Tobey’s first lesson in art education. He learned it at a very young age from his father and mentor, renowned Western sculptor Gene Tobey, who instilled in Josh an innate desire to pursue a career as an artist. Even though Josh eventually went on to earn a fine arts degree at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, many of his most valuable lessons came from watching his father’s grit and success in the Western art world. “One of the greatest assets I’ve had in my career is growing up in an artist’s studio and knowing that you can be an artist — that it’s a reality,” says Josh, whose stepmother, Rebecca Tobey, collaborated artistically with his father.

Josh began molding his first sculptures at age 5 or 6, while sitting in the back of his father’s classrooms in Corvallis, Oregon, where Gene worked as a college art professor. The small horses or deer that took shape from Josh’s 5-year-old fingers were simply products of play and curious exploration. Josh’s father never pushed his son to begin sculpting or tried to teach him techniques in the studio. Instead, he would subtly encourage Josh’s interest by casting his experiments, which resulted in Josh’s first bronze sculptures before he was 14.

What makes his work distinct are the personalities and anthropomorphic traits that come through in the faces and figures of his wildlife sculptures. His sculptures, whether a sleeping bear, howling coyote or prancing deer, embody their own spirit and intelligence, evolving from their original shapes into pieces that are mischievous, whimsical and humorous. Each work evokes a visceral emotional response from the viewer — whether it’s an instinctive response to smile or a thoughtful pause to contemplate the interconnection between wildlife and humanity. 

Another distinct feature of Josh’s art is his original and contemporary patina work, which he has continued to develop over time to incorporate a visual texture onto the surface of each bronze. The artist views the patina as its own artistic composition, a notion that sets him apart in the world of sculpture, as it brings the piece into a lively existence and contributes to the tangibility and interactive quality of the work. “My patinas have developed to the point where every new piece is the cutting edge in my studio,” says Josh.

The notion of play that brought about some of Josh’s very first artworks is still alive and well in his Colorado studio with his development of one-of-a-kind bronze
reliefs. What began as a sculpting exercise and playful experimentation with patina, subject matter and composition has now evolved into a full body of work. These
unique bronzes are like pages from the sculptor’s sketchbook; their rarity not only provides tremendous value to the collector, as Josh produces only a few per year,
but also acts as another personal connection between artist and collector. 

Josh has received significant acclaim for his artwork in the Western art world, but his most honored achievement is being recognized as the featured artist at the 2014 Fall Arts Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Josh is the first sculptor ever to receive this award.

“The greatest award I could receive as an artist is when somebody appreciates my work. I’ve got people who bet on me, who have supported me, and in doing so have enabled me to work harder to come up with new concepts for bronzes. Further developing the work is the artist’s responsibility to the collector and to the spirit of the art.”

Title: Free Spirit
Artist: Josh Tobey
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: 24"H x 10"W x 10.5"D