As a child, Michael Enn Sirvet had an obsession with drilling – and holes.
“The desire to excavate and open space where none had existed was intoxicating,” said the structural engineer turned sculptor.
That fascination endures today and defines Sirvet’s architectonic work.
Artist: Sirvet was born and grew up in the forested suburb of Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey. His childhood backyard bordered a wetland, which fueled his curiosity about the natural world.
In addition to his surroundings, Sirvet was heavily influenced by his family.
His father, a renowned mechanical engineer; his grandfather, a master carpenter; and grandmother, a nature painter, all helped shape his artistic sensibilities.
At Fordham University, Sirvet received his first college degree in finance with a minor in art history. He then earned a second degree in structural engineering with minors in music and studio art from the University of Maryland.
After completing his college studies, Sirvet spent more than a decade working as a structural engineer while making sculpture part time.
Then, during one of his wilderness excursions, Sirvet made the pivotal decision to pursue sculpture seriously. It was in the midst of a near-death experience while traversing Porphyry Mountain in Wrangell – St. Elias Nation Park in Alaska.
Upon his return, Sirvet joined a sculpture studio, and in 2008, transitioned fully into the world of sculpture and art.
Studio: Secret Studio Lair LLC is an industrial space located in Beltsville, MD. He also has an office in Washington, DC.
In the beginning: As a child, Sirvet became obsessed with holes – and the drilling of them, thanks to his grandfather’s 1950s Millers Falls hand-powered drill, an object that continues to influence his work today.
Art & materials: Sculpture made of various metals, including aluminum, hardwoods and acrylics. Also stone and works on paper. Works range in size from tabletop to monumental
($500 to $100,000 plus).
Some sculpture shapes remain flat. Others are shaped through folds and curves. Often, several shapes are assembled into a single, complex dimensional geometric form.
Must-have tools:
- Lots of drills of all kinds.
- Pneumatic orbital sanders.
- Plasma cutter.
Inspirations:
- Shapes and motion in nature, from forests and deserts to swamps and mountains.
- His engineering and scientific training, which causes him to ask questions about what lies beneath the surfaces we see.
Special commission: “The March,” a red, multi-piece outdoor sculpture commissioned for the front area of the historic mid-century modern/international style home, the Seymour Krieger House in Bethesda, MD. The one-story, steel-framed house, designed by architect Marcel Breuer, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rather than being inspired by nature for this project, Sirvet responded to the spirited political marches that have taken place across the globe in recent years.
“The sculpture’s sweeping lines and bright color deliberately contrast with the home’s linear geometry and restrained white and gray tones,” said Sirvet. “Creating a purposeful dialogue of opposition between the two.” (See the sculpture, installed in 2019, above right).
Recent project:
- A private commission that was a larger-scale variation of a favorite piece from his smaller “Rampart” series of sculptures.
Nearly six feet in height, the white “Cloud Rampart” was also site-specific, as the collectors wanted it installed atop a large flat rock in their sculpture garden. (See sculpture, below right)
- A 32-foot, hanging illuminated installation in the center of the three-story main stairway in a large home.
What’s next: Working on a large-scale suspended installation for the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Where to buy:
- Artist’s website: sirvet.com
- Many galleries, including the Christopher Martin Gallery in Aspen and Dallas, MAC Art Galleries in Florida, Momentum Gallery in Asheville and Avant-Art Gallery in Houston.
See a complete list on the artist’s website.
Connect:
- Instagram: @Sirvet Studios
- Facebook: Sirvet Studios.
