Stack

Peter Oakley is a stone sculptor who grew up in the North Carolina mountains. He is known for creating life-sized marble sculptures that fool the viewer’s eye. His sculptures include ordinary objects like bars of soap, egg cartons, and Styrofoam takeout boxes. Stack is a marble sculpture of Styrofoam takeout boxes that are stacked together. Styrofoam containers are not usually recycled, so they are used once and then thrown away. Oakley gives these temporary items a sense of permanence by depicting them in marble. 

Marble is a durable material that can last for thousands of years. It is often associated with ancient Greek sculptures and works by Renaissance masters. Oakley says he likes to use marble because of these associations. These associations are contrasted, however, by the things he chooses to sculpt in such a durable medium. There is a sense of playfulness in his sculptures, but there is also a deeper meaning to consider.

While there is humor in my work, the humor serves to lead into some very serious lines of thought.

Peter Oakley

Oakley also sculpts objects from our recent industrial past, like sewing machines, typewriters, and cassette tapes. He considers these objects the “unsung heroes” of modern life. His sculptures explore the relationships people have with technology and the power that technology has over humans.

tags: NC art, NC artist, North Carolina, contemporary sculpture