Playful Sculptures by Nathan Carter

BROOKLYN STREET TREASURES ALL CITY MTA MASTER-KEY HYPING NEWKIRK AVE TO MYRTLE-WILLOUGHBY, 2011
Steel, enamel and acrylic paint, stainless steel wire, Plexiglas, found objects
79 x 208 x 4” / 274.3 x 579.1 x 10.2cm

TRAVELING LANGUAGE MACHINE WITH #3 FREQUENCY DISRUPTOR AND DISINFORMATION NUMBERS STATION, 2007
Steel, enamel paint
99 x 149 x 83” (251-1/2 x 378-1/2 x 211cm)

TYROLEAN ALPINE WIRELESS STATIONS MERANO TRENTO BOLZANO CORTINA D’AMPEZZO SARENTINO READY FOR RADIO CHECK, 2009.
Courtesy of the Artist and Casey Kaplan, NY.

TUSCADERO SIGNAL RELAY STATION, 2009
Ceramic, steel, acrylic paint, enamel paint
46.5 x 17 x 14” / 118.1 x 43.2 x 35.6 cm

WILLIAMSBURG BROOKLYN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT CONCEALED SWINDON CALL AND RESPONSE, 2010
Steel, aluminum, acrylic and enamel paint
Installation dimensions: 240 x 156 x 110” / 609.6 x 396.2 x 279.4cm

HANDMADE RADAR REFLECTOR FOUND AND REMOUNTED MALDIVES CIRCA NOW, 2012
Enamel paint, steel, aluminum, stainless steel wire, Acrylite, brass and copper
21 x 12.5 x 24” / 53.3 x 31.8 x 61 cm

A vicious outbreak of super-cyclonic polar weather caused blizzard conditions and prompted and emergency white-out advisory, 2013
Latex acrylic paint, ink, color pigment on aluminum di-bond
58 × 94 in / 147.3 × 238.8 cm

This is a place where derelict former early warning/first strike runways, aircraft hangers and control towers were hastily converted into worker housing for the new polar sea route activity. Constant man-made weather disturbances make life and work treacherous for the dock workers and ship navigators., 2014
Acid Free Manilla paper, gouache, ink, pencil
36 x 48″ / 91.4 x 121.9cm

American artist Nathan Carter is best known for his brightly coloured, playful sculptures and artwork with peculiar titles. Carter creates two- and three-dimensional works using conventional materials such as Plexiglas, wire, enamel, paper, acetate, timber as well as small “street treasures” found on walks through his Brooklyn neighbourhood. Like his drawings and collages on paper, Carter’s delicate mobiles and sculptures possess a precarious sense of balance.

His sculptures in particular have a certain and undeniable Alexander Calder-esque quality, although Carter manages to interpret the late master’s work in his own way. The combination of delicious colours, playful materials, imperfect shapes and perfect proportions have me feeling week in my knees (lost my mind, baby please…) These are just some of the reasons I simply cannot get enough of Carter’s electrifying portfolio. Extreme love y’all!