Alan Todd – Contemporary Artist and Sculptor in Adelaide

Thank you for visiting my website. I’m Alan Todd and I have been an artist all of my life.

I hope you find something of interest in my work and ideas. In a sense, all of my work is autobiographical. For me, art doesn’t exist in a vacuum and while instinct will play a part there is always a beginning point based upon an exploration of an idea.

SCULPTURE

I work principally in wood and steel. Industrial materals are a deliberate choice and follow in a family tradition. My father was a skilled metalworker and woodworker and I grew up surrounded by the things he made. However, while his projects were always utilitarian from furniture to toys, my sculptures are the opposite. They exist as objects in their own right.

The influences on my work are wide and varied from the monuments of the past to sculptors such as David Smith, Picasso, Brancusi, Noguchi, Nevellson, the Constructivists, Judd and contemporary installationists such as Barlow and Drew. There is hardly an artist of the last century who has not in some way influenced my thinking.

Essentially I am a constructor looking for ways to express complex ideas without losing connection to the materials. The materials come from hardware stores so commercial pine and plywood play a major role alongside a variety of plastic, rope and metal objects.

Cat’s Cradle. Wood/glass/string 200x80x80cms

Ocean view. Wood 200x80x80 cms

Workshop view Asemic forms,

SENTINEL 2 Wood 240 x 90 40 cmsThis series of works explored the idea of ancient , enigmatic monuments.

LOTTRIO: Wood 240 x 80 x 30cms. This is one of a series of forms based upon the movement of contempoarary dancer Lottie Kurusa

ORION. Overall dimensions 40 metres x 15 metres x 240 cms tall. This work for the Palmer International was built to resonate with the time of year and the constellation Orion in the northern sky as well as continue the theme of ancient markers ot time and season. The constellation left the southern hermisphere skies as the exhibiton ended.

Figurative sculpture number 6 by Alan Todd

Abstract sculpture number 5 by Alan Todd

Figurative sculpture number 1 by Alan Todd

Figurative art piece number 3 by Alan Todd

Figurative art piece number 2 by Alan Todd

Figurative artwork number 4 by Alan Todd

. INNER SPACE 1-6. Wood, plastic, steel, rubber.

The third iteration of Conversations with my Father consists of a series of forms wherein each shape attempts to communicate with the other though linearity and the inevitable void of space.

Conversations Headstand” sculpture by Alan Todd

Headstand. Part of the series Conversations with My Father. 50×15 cms

Enclosure. Wood, glass, found objects 40 x 15 x 12 cms

Nightgarden 6. Mahogany, teak, jarrah, found wooden objects from Ikea

Flying Fgures. Steel, copper, wood

L 40 x 80cms C 40 x 25 cms R 50 x 70 cms

LIMINAL

The transition from one state to another. 1200x600mm. Manufactured and found objects on plywood

.PAINTING

I began as a painter some six decades ago and my approach to both painting and sculpture has been one of exploration.

The extensive series ‘Conversations with my Father ‘ is ironic in that the conversations never took place. So much was never said and our lives were separated by half a world and a lack of understanding. Each painting is a moment when something happened in my life which I wish I could have shared. He never saw the paintings.