Christy Coltrin and Brad Oldham are the dynamic duo behind Brad Oldham Sculpture, whose work begins and ends with imagination and perseverance. This unique collaboration is one of two artists who know how to challenge each other to produce better work than either could do alone. With 20 years of experience in the fine-art arena, Brad Oldham Sculpture specializes in creating placemaking sculptures, architectural features, and tabletop editions of their public installations.
The secret sauce developed by Christy and Brad is to uncover the essence of a place to find and create the story that guides the creation of site-specific sculpture. Their vision is to bring sculpture directly to people – in their daily play, work, travel, and relaxation time – thereby encouraging personal engagement with this interactive art form. A sculpture may be bronze, stainless steel, steel, aluminum, wood, glass, concrete, or stone.
Brad Oldham Sculpture has been prolific since its inception in 1999, and the beauty and evocativeness of their work often make a piece a cherished community icon. Their work is jaw-dropping and breathtaking. Three of our favorites are:
Galveston Beach Trio welcomes thousands of guests annually as they embark on their vacation from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal in Galveston, Texas. The site-specific sculpture measures 9 feet tall, 18.5 feet wide, and 10 feet deep. Crafted from stainless steel, steel, and lost-wax-cast bronze, the trio features beloved local animals – an exuberant sea turtle on drums, a charismatic pelican on bass, and a spirited crab on the piano. Their vibrant presence sets the stage for an unforgettable adventure, radiating energy and excitement that captivates visitors upon arriving at the terminal.
The Traveling Man stands 40 feet tall and creates a stunning welcome to Deep Ellum with an outstretched hand of friendship, surrounded by his BIRD friends. When Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) needed to close the below-ground tunnel entrance into the Deep Ellum neighborhood, the agency invested in a monumental public art installation to create a new sense of arrival in place of the beloved tunnel gateway. The Traveling Man only has two points of contact with the ground and goes about 40 feet deep to withstand a 150 MPH wind shear. Brad built the bones of the sculptures in part off-site and part on-location. The stainless-steel skin was hand applied and riveted on location!
The Sweet Life is Christy and Brad’s newest creation and was a family commission in honor of their five children. The 7-foot tall sculpture is made of marine-grade stainless steel and granite. Its defining five organic shapes are connected in a playful, individualistic, and huggable manner. The shiny, cheese-cake-inspired shapes represent the well-rounded children who support and propel each other upwards. The granite base, textured in two different styles, represents the parental support for the five children. Deliberately standing at two feet tall, the base reinforces the balanced and stable home provided by the parents.
Brad’s unparalleled skill as a sculptor and Christy’s vivid imagination create emotional connections and experiences that expand and enrich people’s lives in the tangible way that only sculpture can manifest.For more inspiration, visit https://www.bradoldham.com/ or find them at @BradOldhamSculpture and @TinySparksNation.
