Thaddeus Mosley

Thaddeus Mosley is a self-taught sculptor whose work speaks through form, rhythm, and reverence for material. Known for transforming salvaged wood into fluid compositions, Mosley draws inspiration from nature, jazz, and African diasporic aesthetics. At almost 99 years old, his first solo outdoor exhibition in New York City, Touching the Earth, presented by Public Art Fund, celebrates his legacy with eight large-scale bronze sculptures set in Manhattan’s City Hall Park.

Each sculpture was cast from Mosley’s original wood carvings created between 1996 and 2021. Originally produced by our New York team for Karma Gallery, the bronzes preserve the tactility and grain of the original hickory and walnut to basswood timber, showcasing Mosley’s understanding of organic material and form. The fabrication process included 3D scanning of the original works, digital enlargement, CNC foam milling, and a combination of lost wax and sand casting, depending on the artwork. Finishing and patination were carried out by longtime UAP patinists Rosemary Rednour and Chris DeCaprio, who have worked on dozens of his sculptures.

The monumental Gate III, which stands 15 feet tall and weighs over 4,600 pounds, anchors the southern entrance of the park, inviting visitors into an immersive dialogue between nature and the urban environment. Other works like Benin Strut, Inverted Dancer, Southwestern Suite, Geometric Plateau, Repetitive Reference, Inclination, and Region in Suspension reflect Mosley’s process, rooted in listening to the material and responding to its internal rhythm.

Curated by Jenée-Daria Strand (Public Art Fund), the exhibition takes its title from a bell hooks essay, linking the artist’s process with Black spiritual and ecological traditions. For Mosley, sculpture is not about dominance over material but rather a partnership with it. “I carve in response to what I find in it, not what I want it to be.”

Touching the Earth is a celebration of Mosley’s legacy. UAP is proud to have produced all eight sculptures for this landmark presentation, working closely with Karma Gallery and Public Art Fund to bring this momentous installation to life.