Sally HepleR
bronze and steel
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505.820.0807 call or text • art@owencontemporary.com
1948-2023
“My abstract sculpture is an expression of my inner self and soul. It’s not just the application of a skill, it’s the tangible form of experience and emotion. Because it is not representational, I think it requires deeper thought and more involvement on the viewer’s behalf.”
Born in Vermont, Hepler has had many art-related careers which she believes have ultimately contributed to and given momentum to her development as a sculptor. Her formal education includes years of study at the University of New Hampshire, University of Connecticut, Fairfield University, and most recently the College of Santa Fe where she received her B.A.
In addition, Hepler has participated in numerous sculpture and patination workshops with such experts as Beverly Pepper. The most important influence in her career was the late Allan Houser who served as her mentor. He introduced her to the mechanics and business of metal fabrication. She operates her own metal fabrication shop in Santa Fe.
Hepler’s award-winning work has been included in numerous exhibitions throughout the United States, including The Palm Springs Desert Museum; the PBS Annual Art Exhibit, KRMA TV in Denver, CO; International Expo 2000 in Miami, FL; the Albuquerque United Artists Exhibit (Best of Show) 1998; and the Los Alamos County 4-State Sculpture Competitions where she received First Place in 1996 and Honorable Mention in 1995. She is represented internationally in many public and private collections including the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ; Gary Glenn Architects, Inc., St. Louis, MO; Sea Gate Technologies, Singapore; the Sierra Group, Inc., Monona, WI; and Trust Investments, Palm Beach, FL, to name a few.
Her sculpture not only offers the viewer an infinite number of vantage points, it also offers one of the most vital sensual characteristics – the sense of touch. This is equally as important as the visual experience. “I believe emotional energy can be sculpted into a piece that can be felt by others. I want people to touch my sculpture so they can feel the smooth, cool strength of the bronze or steel. I want them to get the feeling that they might be experiencing the same intense emotion that I felt when I was creating the piece.”
The artist is a member of the International Sculpture Center, Washington, DC, the Sante Fe Council for the Arts, the New Mexico Sculptors Guild, Santa Fe, NM and Albuquerque United Artists, Albuquerque, NM. One of her recent bronze sculptures was added to a collection that includes works by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, William Turnbull and George Rickey.