Clarita Brinkerhoff

Clarita Brinkerhoff (born 1966) creates sculptural forms in metal and crystal, inspired by the crafting of jewelry. Her art focuses on nature, its animal kingdom and the preservation of it; her subjects include Arabian and Friesian horses, an albino peacock dressed with natural feathers, flamingos, koi, a bald eagle, an elephant and a horned owl. The attention to detail in her work is in harmony with the shape of each subject, producing an art form that mimics perfection.

Each piece is first sculpted in clay, which is then used to make a wax mold. Molten metal is poured into the mold and the cast is polished and plated; holes are drilled into the piece so that the stones can be securely placed, and every crystal, Swarovski Stellux or Preciosa, is set by hand, one by one. Her works range in size from 18 to 48 inches and larger and hold up to 45,000 crystals in a single sculpture.

Her sculptures are held in influential private collections around the world, including Hong Kong, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, Mumbai, Europe, Canada and the United States, and have been shown with Aldo Castillo Gallery at Art Miami and Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary.