Sculptor Bien Irizarry was born on the island of Puerto Rico in 1957. But burgeoning artist, Bien, found himself living most of his youth in New York City. While he spent many hours touring galleries, museums and public works so essential to his artistic development, he honed his skills with an esteemed education. Bien attended the School of Art & Design, The Arts Students League, and the National Academy of Arts – all in New York City, where his focus was draftmenship. Later, he traveled around the United States working at Art foundries, mastering the trade and casting his own work into bronze.

Today, Bien resides in Santa Fe, NM, for the camaraderie and community, galleries and marketplace, landscape and quality of life.

At the age of 5, Bien encountered the masters... Renoir, Modigliani and Picasso. This proved to be life changing. “They were the most beautiful things - I was captivated,” he says, “It was then I knew that I would be an artist”

Bien sculpts because of the three dimensions that move him to react with creation. His love of color is evident in each work, but his mastery of carving, mixing media, and assembly to achieve his artistic stories prevails.

His subject matter remains simple yet powerful: branches, clouds, stones... even a bird. “I relate to these in a fundamental and metaphori- cal way,” Bien says, “I can compose with branches quickly, covering surface space, expressing hardship, death, new beginnings and life through a range of textures and movements. Clouds allow me great space, pressure, and atmosphere. Stones or rocks are ancient, wise and defiant. The bird fantasized freedom.”

Clear acrylics are a favorite medium and are the primary element in his work. He fascinates his viewers by the effects of light, the control of gravity, easy carving, and assembling in a modernistic manner. The wood then lends distinct warmth. Natural stones and rocks provide weight and earthy color.

Bien Irizarry currently exhibits in several galleries in the Southwest, and his collectors are from all over the United States.