Making the sculpture.
The portrait brings together clay modeling, digital sculpting and fabrication in recycled PETG, followed by hand work and metal coatings. It is made in my New York studio.
From clay to digital form.
I begin by modeling the head in clay. This is where the portrait first takes shape in my hands. The clay is then 3D-scanned, and I continue developing the form through digital sculpting.
The digital stage allows the portrait to be prepared at its intended scale: 85 cm for indoor placement or 100 cm for outdoor placement.
Recycled material.
The sculpture’s body is fabricated by 3D printing in recycled PETG, a type of plastic. This provides a lightweight form that I can continue to work by hand before applying the final surface.
Reusing material is part of my wider studio practice. For other works, including Aretaieia and Egymonousa, I have used PETG recycled from medical packaging. Jefferson continues this exploration of recycled materials in public sculpture.
Finished by hand.
After fabrication, the form returns to hand work. I rework and finish the surface, bringing the stages of clay, digital development and printing together in the completed sculpture.
The head receives a brass metal coating and the torso a bronze metal coating, over the recycled PETG body.
The outdoor version is finished with a two-component protective clear coat to help protect the surface from weathering and UV exposure. The studio provides guidance on placement and ongoing care.
Why I made itEnquiries
Offer this portrait a place.
studio@petrides.artPetrides Public Sculpture · New York & Athens · +1 917 860 0932