Welded steel, 70 x 24 x 24, 2010.
The Equilibrist (2010) is a standing figurative sculpture in welded steel that examines themes of poise, creation, and precarious structural balance. Depicting a visibly pregnant, stylized female figure balancing on a single foot atop a heavy flared base, the work supports a large, bowl-like basin directly on her head. Through this dynamic vertical posture—further accented by her raised, curving arms and a short fringe skirt—the piece bridges classical traditions of caryatid statuary and African figurative carving with the industrial density of heavy welded steel.
Standing nearly six feet tall, the sculpture’s dark, patinated surface emphasizes its volumetric form, drawing attention to the full, prominent curve of her breasts and abdomen contrasted against the heavy vessel above. The title refers to a performer who balances objects or their own body in extreme equilibrium, serving as a conceptual metaphor for the immense physical and psychological burden of carrying life. By elevating a functional basin atop a poised, contrapposto figure, The Equilibrist transforms heavy industrial steel into a graceful, enduring study of maternal strength, counterweight, and bodily endurance.
