BRAD SELLS •   COOKEVILLE, TN

“I appreciate the relationship between man and tree. There is a co-evolution present. I am interested in how man uses the forest and how the relationship grows and thrives in worldly cultures. My curiosity has taken me as far as South Africa, the Amazon, and the Hawaiian Islands where indigenous people believe the forest is a spiritual place where ancestors dwell.”—Brad Sells

Sells’ sculptural woodwork evolves from a conviction that all living things have a soul. As he shapes and reveals the visage of each piece, he views his role as capturing then releasing the voice of each tree. From this vantage point, he carves exotic and domestic woods into the sensual, tactile, and delicate forms showcased in this portfolio.

Sells works in his own Bark Studio in his hometown of Cookeville, Tennessee. Though located in a relatively rural area, Sells’ artistic reputation, strong work ethic, and recognition of his unique skills have led to invitations to travel and carve rare woods on distant continents. His work has been exhibited in museums and private collections throughout the world, including the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C.