Serving as both his first major solo show in the United Kingdom and the announcement of global representation by London’s Gallery FUMI, Casey McCafferty unveils a new body of work in carved wood and stone, in an exhibition called Head Hand Foot, that will be on display through June 29th, 2024. The self-taught artist and sculptor’s latest fusions of furniture design and sculpture are, without a doubt, bold, including tables, stools, cabinets, and chairs. McCafferty’s full range of craftsmanship, talent for direct carving, and love of experimenting with natural materials shine throughout.
Head Hand Foot
The featured sculpture in the exhibition shares the same title as the show itself: Head Hand Foot. Made from oiled walnut and limestone, McCafferty stretches his wings with the challenge, testing various skills to reach the desired textures and colors. Other standouts from the show include the ash Gaeta Cabinet High and a hanging sculpture, Hag Stones. Made from discarded pieces of wood from projects past, ash, red and grey elm, butternut, walnut, and white oak are stacked together to create a modern totem.
Head Hand Foot
Inspired by a love of nature and mythology, each piece is rustic yet polished with fine details and intriguing textures. The culmination is a blend of mythological motifs with natural organic forms and elements of human anatomy.
McCafferty shares: “My sculptures are tangible embodiments of mythological narratives. They echo the whispers of forgotten languages, bridging past and present, translating the mysteries of antiquity into a language that speaks to the soul, captures something universally understood, echoes across civilizations, and forges connections across time.”
Head Hand Foot
Though he works with unforgiving materials such as wood, stone, and metal, McCafferty rarely sketches or plans before beginning a project. Each piece is meticulously hand-carved using ash, walnut, red cedar, and stone, where the material dictates the creative process and end result.
Head Hand Foot
“We are drawn to Casey’s work for his instinctive, almost primal approach to sculpture. He carves everything by hand in his studio and pulls from a timeless, universal language,” comment FUMI founders Sam Pratt and Valerio Capo. “His works honor the inherent beauty of his chosen materials while blending with contemporary experimentation. This approach is representative of the work that FUMI seeks to celebrate.”
Head Hand Foot
017 Bench
Sculptural Bedside Table
Sculptural Bedside Table
Sculptural Bedside Table
Sculptural Bedside Table
Gaeta Cabinet High
Gaeta Cabinet High
Gaeta Cabinet High
Hag Stones
Hag Stones
Hello World Table
Hello World Table
Hello World Table
Hello World Table
Casey McCafferty
To learn more about the Head Hand Foot exhibition, visit galleryfumi.com.
Photography courtesy of Gallery FUMI.
