WorkArt & Culture

Giant kinetic sculptures carved out of wood by world renowned artist John Buck

John Buck is renowned for his carved wood and bronze sculptures and monumental woodblock prints. In recent years, he has turned his attention to creating ever-more-complex mechanical kinetic sculptures, some of which you can see at Kinetic, a new exhibition at KANEKO in Omaha, Nebraska. In fact, you can see 14 of his giant, hand-carved creations until 14th October 2017, when the show closes.

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Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring figures and architectural elements arranged in an arch composition with grid-patterned structures on either side

Buck is an artist who is fascinated by the cultural imagery surrounding his two homes (one in Bozeman, Montana, and the other on the Big Island of Hawaii), current events, popular culture, and the irony inherent in world history. This collected visual vocabulary weaves through his sculptural and print works.

Watch the Kinetic video below to see the sculptures in action and learn more from John. We've also shared some images from the exhibition, for those of you who can't make it. For more info on John Buck, visit johnbuckart.com.

Carved wooden figure with a stern expression wearing a tall hat, part of John Buck's kinetic sculpture installation
Hand-carved wooden figures in profile, including men in dynamic poses with mechanical elements, part of John Buck's kinetic sculpture exhibition
Hand-carved wooden sculpture by John Buck depicting a figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat, displayed as part of the Kinetic exhibition
Carved wooden figures operate a spinning wheel mechanism in one of John Buck's kinetic sculptures displayed against a dark background
Hand-carved wooden figure in military attire with a hat, holding a rifle, part of John Buck's kinetic sculpture installation
Carved wooden relief detail showing figures including a skeleton and women in period dress arranged along an arched bridge structure against a black background
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring a mechanical bicycle with a central tree form and various figures and wheels, displayed against a black wall
Close-up of a hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck, featuring interlocking wooden arms and joints suspended by strings
Hand-carved wooden figure wearing a hat and holding a sword, part of John Buck's kinetic sculpture installation
Four Gothic-style arched windows carved into wooden wall panels, each containing a silhouette figure with raised arms in John Buck's kinetic sculpture
US dollar bills suspended on strings against a dark background, depicting money in motion
Close-up of a mechanical component from one of John Buck's kinetic sculptures, showing alternating black and white square elements arranged in a circular pattern
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculptures by John Buck featuring articulated figures with expressive faces and movable limbs, displayed in a gallery space
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring interlocking gears and wheels connected to a profile head and figure, displayed in a gallery setting
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring a female figure manipulating gears and pulleys above dangling puppet heads against a black panel backdrop
Wooden hands operating a carved wooden mechanism with suspended strings in John Buck's kinetic sculpture
Carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck depicting a wild-haired figure with articulated limbs in a dynamic pose, suspended from strings with a geometric symbol above it against a dark background
Wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring a carved female figure with outstretched arms supporting an intricate house-shaped structure with sun motifs and mechanical elements
Close-up of a carved wooden head with an angular face beside a leaf-shaped element, part of John Buck's kinetic sculpture installation
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture featuring figures, gears and mechanical elements arranged on a platform before a dark backdrop with geometric designs
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring a boat-shaped structure with architectural elements and a large crab form extending from its base
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring a spherical form suspended within rings atop an articulated wooden figure base
Hand-carved wooden kinetic sculpture by John Buck featuring a skeletal figure sitting beneath a decorative vessel with curved ornamental stems
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