Floyd Shaman

Floyd Shaman was a prominent twentieth century American sculptor.

Born in Wyoming, Shaman studied sculpture as an undergraduate at the University of Wyoming where he trained under Robert I. Russin, one of Wyoming's most well-known artists. After earning a Master's degree in education in 1970, Shaman left Laramie, Wyoming and moved to Cleveland, Mississippi to teach art at Delta State University. He left academia after ten years at Delta State in order to devote himself full-time to sculpture. One of the South's most important figurative artists in the last part of the 20th century, his works are included in major collections across the United States and internationally.

Shaman's most significant work involves the detailed process called lamination. Layers of wood are first joined together in rough forms; the artist then refines the shape and subsequently works the surface down to a glass-like finish. Shaman is featured in the textbook, "The Sculpture Reference: Techniques, Terms, Tools, Materials, and Sculpture" by Arthur Williams, where detailed photographs illustrate the lamination process. His typical sculpture depicts everyday encounters defined by wry humor, irony, and sober reflection. His life-size human figures frequently portray the working-class people he evidently admires. Shaman used other media in addition to wood, including bronze sculpture, ceramics and painting.

Floyd Shaman died on August 8, 2005 at the age of 69.

External links

General review and several pictures of work available at:
* [http://www.usadeepsouth.com/article1006.html Review of Shaman's work]
* [http://here2create.com/html/floyd_shaman.html Pictures of works by Shaman]