Untitled

A University of Wisconsin–Madison alumnus, John Hughes earned an MFA in 1992. In addition to his work as a sculptor, Hughes is also a composer and musician, who constructs the instruments he plays. In his sculptures, which he also refers to as “instruments,” he explores the loss of the connection between humans and tools, along with the diminishing respect for craft. His sculptures often reference traditional materials or methods. This untitled sculpture is reminiscent of a utilitarian form, such as a vessel, basket, or feed bag. It incorporates birch, a nod to nature that is important to Hughes’s practice and may reference traditional Native American vessel construction.