Nancy Graves

Nancy Graves’ series of Wax Works sculptures are formed from a variety of disparate objects. Among the elements included in the present work are a sailor’s braid, a classical column section, a baluster, a Chinese braid pastry, and a palmetto leaf.

In order to produce these sculptures, Graves would first cast the individual elements in wax; these were then heat tacked together before being cast in bronze with gates and parting lines remaining. Only a single cast could be realized of each sculpture. The cast was then enameled by baking the bronze anew under high heat in one session. The resulting sculptures are intricately textured and wildly colorful, and can be variously positioned by placing them on each side.