© Muna El Fituri
Thomas Houseago is a British sculptor known for his monumental figurative works that toy with classical traditions while embracing a bold, modern aesthetic. Born in Leeds, England, he studied at the prestigious St. Martin's School of Art in London before relocating to Los Angeles in 2003. Houseago's large-scale sculptures appear rough-hewn and primordial, yet meticulously rendered in materials like wood, plaster, iron, and bronze. His earlier works featuring nude male figures twisted into contorted poses pay homage to art historical titans like Rodin while deconstructing idealized forms. Subsequent series like the mythological Giant Figures demonstrate his evolving approach to texture, scale, and narrative. Masks, totems, and figures with exaggerated features populate Houseago's powerful visual language. Twisted metal rebar constructions later emerged, their rawness underscoring themes of fragility, desire, and turmoil. His work resists traditional categories, balancing classical techniques with aggressive modeling andcontemporary concepts. The artist's process often begins with sketching, model-making, and material experimentation before translating studies into major public installations and gallery exhibitions. Notable examples include his 30-foot-tall sculpture commissioned for the 2010 Whitney Biennial and an imposing redwood giant exhibited at London's Royal Academy in 2019. Acclaimed internationally, Houseago has work held in the permanent collections of the MoMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Museé d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris among others. In remolding the figurative idiom through a bold, emotionally visceral approach, he has established himself as a leading voice in 21st century sculpture.