fosterwilley

STATEMENT

“My work is both abstract and representational. My interest in the figurative tradition and architectural ornament are central to my creative efforts. Of equal importance is the influence of the early modernist from which my explorations into abstraction have evolved.”
“Animating form thru the plasticity of materials and utilizing negative space to create forms that express both mass and transparency have been the focus of many of my sculptural investigations. These formal concerns inform the symbolic content of my work, which often involves the search for something archetypal, innate, and universal.

BIO

Foster Willey is a sculptor and public artist who maintains his studio in Detroit, MI. He is new to the Detroit art scene having just moved to the Motor City with his wife, Valerie, from Minneapolis, MN. Valerie is also an artist and an associate at the College for Creative Studies. Foster has participated in numerous design settings including large-scale projects for major municipalities. His professional affiliations include architects, engineers, landscape architects, lighting designers, fabricators, historians, graphic designers, and conservators.

Originally from St. Joseph, Michigan, and a graduate of St. Joseph High School, Foster received a B.F.A. from Grand Valley State University in painting and sculpture. His art education also included courses at Michigan State University and Andrews University where his mentor was British Sculptor, Allan Collins. In the early 80’s Foster attended the Naguib School of Sculpture in Chicago where he worked with Egyptian sculptor, Mustafa Naguib.

Upon relocating to Minneapolis in 1988, Foster was commissioned by the City of Minneapolis to create The Leaders Wall, a series of fifty life-size bronze portraits of community activists that are integrated into the 4th Ave Bridge along the Green Line commuter trail. Other major commissions followed including Centrifuge, a monumental abstract bronze sculpture for Nicollet Commons Park in Burnsville, MN.

Today, Foster Willey’s commissions can be found throughout the State of Minnesota, including St. Louis Park; The Bee Way, Plymouth; Winged Iris, Rosemount; Triskele, Owatonna; Regeneration, Minneapolis; Minnesota Menagerie and the Central Avenue Stelae. Recent Public Art projects include two light rail stations for the new Green Line in St. Paul: Hamline Prairie Station and Faces of Rondo at Victoria Station, and Ascent Fountain, in 2016 also located in Nicollet Commons Park. In 2019 Foster completed Intersections, for the City of Cottage Grove, homage to first responders at the new Hero Center Training Facility.

Professional accomplishments also include collaborations with landscape architects at Kimley Horn Inc. for Nicollet Commons Park, SRF Consulting for the 13th St Enhancements in Minneapolis, and Toole Design / the Street Design Manual for the City of St. Paul.

Foster has received two CUE awards from the Minneapolis Committee on Urban Planning, and an Award of Excellence from the MN Concrete & Masonry Contractors Assn. for stone carving. Burnsville’s Nicollet Commons Park received the Great Places Award from the MN Urban Land Institute & the Sensible Land Use Coalition, which features the sculpture, ”Centrifuge”. More recently, Codaworx Magazine, a global design platform showcasing commissioned public art has recognized his projects The Bee Way and Centrifuge for the ‘The Art of Place’. Hamline Prairie Station has also been recognized in their ‘Art of Transit’.

“My work is both abstract and representational. My interest in the figurative tradition and architectural ornament are central to my creative efforts. Of equal importance is the influence of the early modernist from which my explorations into abstraction have evolved.”

“As a sculptor I am very interested in the built environment. Public Art and large-scale sculpture are exciting fields because of their range of expression and impact on our surroundings and the experience of daily life. My work as a public artist is adapted to the specifics of the opportunity. I bring a range of design and fabrication skills to any public art project. My sculptural designs supplement a collaborative process that includes a community’s voice."

EXHIBITIONS/SHOWS/COMMISSIONS

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2020 COLLECTED DETROIT PRESENTS, Group Show, Untethered Space
Painting, Drawing, & Sculpture / 2439 4TH St. Detroit, MI 48201

2016 ANNA RUSSO-SIEBER GALLERY, Solo Exhibition, Foster Willey: The Art of Transit,
Faces of Rondo and Hamline Prairie Station / 147 Fifth St. Benton Harbor, MI

2012 CREATIVE PROCESS: METRO TRANSIT GREEN LINE, Group Exhibition of participating artists
McKnight Foundation, Cynthia Binger Boynton Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

2011 BURNSVILLE PERFORMING ART CENTER, Group Exhibition: Three Minnesota Sculptors
Recent Work 12600 Nicollet Ave. Burnsville, MN

2011 ANNA RUSSO-SIEBER GALLERY, Solo Exhibition, Synthesis: Public Art by Foster Willey
147 Fifth St. Benton Harbor, MI

COMMISSIONS:
2021 VITAL NATURE, Entry Sculpture for Pincanna Dispensary, Grand River Ave. East Lansing, MI
12’ tall sculpture celebrates nature’s rhythmic and vital presence along with wellness and wellbeing.
Sculpture is modular and utilizes 3D technology. It is comprised of a series of stainless steel crescents,
a cor-ten steel base, and up lighting.

2019 INTERSECTIONS, Hero Center, Training Facility for First Responders; Police Officers, Fire fighters, Emergency Medical. Commissioned by the City of Cottage Grove and the City of Woodbury, MN. Entry Sculpture depicts three intersecting rings in cor-ten steel symbolizing the agencies of service, at the top of the rings a soaring eagle hovers cast in bronze representing valor, patriotism and the commitment to service.

2018 RED TAIL RIVER, Orchard Path Senior Housing, Apple Valley, MN, Commissioned by Presbyterian Homes & Services, Facilitation by Corporate Art Force LLC. Red Tail Hawk with River Motif Sculpture located adjacent to Cobblestone Lake. Playfully constructed from cor-ten steel with precast column, standing fourteen feet tall.

2017 BIG WATER, East Gateway Roundabout Sculpture, Commissioned by the City of Wayzata, MN
Abstract stainless steel sculpture representing the grandeur an elegance of Lake Minnetonka. The artwork’s graceful curvilinear form is derived from the surrounding natural habitat, a treasured resource for the City.

2016 ASCENT FOUNTAIN, Ames Center for the Performing Arts, Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville, MN
18’ tall stainless steel and bronze signature sculpture at building’s main entrance. Artwork features three over-life-size bronze eagles that soar thru curvilinear stainless steel trellis. Commissioned by the Burnsville Community Foundation and dedicated to the memory of Ken Slipka

2014 FACES OF RONDO, Victoria Street Station, METRO Green Line, St. Paul, MN
Integrated transit station public art with commemorative bas-relief portraits and highlights from the historic St. Paul Rondo neighborhood. Six large precast architectural concrete sculpted portrait panels, with supporting text engraved in brick, embellish the street elevations. The train platform contains sixteen sculpted terra cotta portraits depicting community leaders and surrounding landmarks. Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN

2014 HAMLINE PRAIRIE STATION, Hamline Avenue Station, METRO Green Line, St. Paul, MN
Integrated transit station public art with contemporary interpretations of regional Prairie School Architecture in artist’s terra cotta designs, repeating decorative elements, chromatic glazed brick and water-jet cut steel patterns. Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN

2013 REGENERATION, Healing Garden at Owatonna Hospital, Owatonna, MN, Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Large bronze sculpture abstracting phoenix and flame forms to represent healing and spiritual aspirations.

2013 LEADERS WALL, 4TH AVE. S. BRIDGE ENHANCEMENTS, Minneapolis, MN
Fifty life-size portraits of community leaders along the Midtown Greenway, Signage identifying individuals and LED lighting added to enhance site. Originally commissioned in1998 and recast in 2007.

2010 TRISKELE, Robert Trail Library, City of Rosemount, MN
Large bronze sculpture and cast stone base with inlay, depicts three spirals, inspired by Celtic Art and local Irish community. It is prominently located in the front lawn of the public library.

2010 MINNESOTA MENAGERIE, Bronze, terra cotta and pre-cast concrete way finding for the downtown Minneapolis Convention Center in collaboration with SRF Architects, City of Minneapolis & Art in Public Places

2009 THE BEE WAY, Shops at The West End, St. Louis Park, MN
Sculptural Plaza with wind-activated welded aluminum kinetic sculptures, cast stone columns with inset terra cotta, cast stone bench with bee wings; water-jet, powder coated steel. Artwork pays homage to the Honey Bee & the Beehive Barbeque. City of St. Louis Park, MN, Duke Realty, Anderson Real Estate

2008 WINGED IRIS, Millennium Garden, Plymouth Creek Center, City of Plymouth, MN
Nine-foot tall bronze, abstract sculpture based on natural forms, located at the center of the garden arbor.

2006 CENTRAL AVENUE STELAE, Cast stone, bronze and terra-cotta, 10’ tall with seating,
Relief sculpture depicting the history of the neighborhood, Art in Public Places, Minneapolis, MN

2005 ANNUNCIATION, Church of the Annunciation, Minneapolis, MN
Seven-foot tall bronze, religious sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary, located at the church main entrance.
Facilitation by Bohemiawerks

2004 CENTRIFUGE, Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville, MN
Award-winning monumental abstract sculpture cast in bronze with integral water feature, representing the character and spirit of Burnsville. Other elements created for the park include fish and frogs located at the water wall. Commercial Aquatics, Clark Engineering, Landscape Architects Dahlgren Shardlow & Uban, Inc.

2002 AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE, stone carving: gargoyles for porch restoration
Architect: Aaron Parker & Associates, Minneapolis, MN

1998 LEADERS WALL, 4TH AVE. S. BRIDGE, Cast Concrete, commissioned by the City of Minneapolis
Sculpt, mold and cast 50 life size portraits of community leaders past and present, faces blend with rock
Pattern of new bridge along Midtown Greenway, Minneapolis, MN

SELECTED AWARDS / AFFILIATIONS
2019 CODA magazine: Hamline Prairie Station is included in ‘The Art of Transit. The project enhances the Light Rail Transit experience. CODAworx is an international online platform showcasing commissioned public art.

2015 HANDMADE TILE ASSOCIATION, January Spotlight Artist Foster Willey Sculptor, LLC
Featuring tile work from Hamline Prairie Station & Victoria Station

2014 CODA magazine: The Bee Way is selected and included in ‘The Art of Place’, by CODA worx and
CODA magazine, an international online platform showcasing commissioned public artwork.

2014 MPR SOUND POINTS, Hamline Prairie Station & Faces of Rondo, Victoria Station: Audio tour of
Metro Green Line Public Art, stories behind the artwork, artist interview produced by Minnesota Public Radio

2013 MINNESOTA URBAN LAND INSTITUTE & SENSIBLE LAND USE COALITION: GREAT PLACES AWARD, Centrifuge as featured public art element in Heart of the City’s Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville MN

2012 CONSULTANT. St. Paul Street Design Manual,
Public Artist Team Member for Toole Design Group, Planning And Engineering, Silver Spring, MD

SELECTED COMPETITIONS:
2018 LEONARD COHEN RECOGNITION PROJECT, Finalist for redesign of Kellogg Plaza adjacent to the Ramsey County Courthouse & St. Paul City Hall, Art Deco Building on the Historic Register. Plaza design to commemorate the hall marks of Judge Larry Cohen and his contributions to the civic fabric of St. Paul.

2016 COMO TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS, Original Artwork for Como Zoo Visitor Forecourt.
Finalist, partnered with Artist Valerie Jenkins, Concept based on armillary sphere including animals in bas- relief and plant motifs referencing the Como Zoo and Conservatory, Friends of Como, St. Paul Parks & Rec.

2016 ART ON THE TRAIL, West Des Moines, Iowa.
Finalist. Five sculptural columns with kinetic crown elements in various locations along the Jordan Creek Trail in West Des Moines, IA, Public Arts Advisory Commission and facilitated by Forecast Public Art, St. Paul, MN

2015 NOTICE OF AWARD. Award for Integrated Public Art at three new stations, the METRO Green Line Extension, Southwest LRT Project, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN: Wooddale, 21st Street, Penn Stations.

2014 GOVERNMENT SERVICES CENTER, Exterior Entry Plaza, Duluth, MN
Finalist, concept: Estuary Place, St. Louis County Public Art, Forecast Public Art

2013 TRIBUTE TO SHARON SAYLES BELTON, Third Ave. Bridge, Minneapolis, MN
Finalist, commemorative sculpture competition, Minneapolis Art in Public Places

2011 MINNESOTA STATE MOORHEAD, Public Art on Campus, revitalized campus,
Finalist, plaza design, partnered with Geoff Martin ASLA, concept: Knowledge Circle

EDUCATION

1984 – 1985 ​Grand Valley State University, Bachelor of Fine Arts
​Allendale, MI / Painting and Sculpture
1983 – 1984 ​Kendall School of Design, Grand Rapids, MI
1980 – 1981 ​The Naguib School of Sculpture, Chicago, IL
​Traditional Figurative Sculpture

AWARDS

Foster has received two CUE awards from the Minneapolis Committee on Urban Planning, and an Award of Excellence from the MN Concrete & Masonry Contractors Assn. for stone carving. Nicollet Commons Park in Burnsville received the Great Places Award from the MN Urban Land Institute & the Sensible Land Use Coalition, which features the sculpture, ”Centrifuge”. More recently, Codaworx Magazine, a global design platform showcasing commissioned public art has recognized his projects The Bee Way and Centrifuge for the ‘The Art of Place’. Hamline Prairie Station has also been recognized in Codaworx "Art of Transit".

TAGS

Sculptor , Public Artist, Abstract Sculpture, Figurative Sculpture, Commemorative Art, Portraiture, Contemporary Ornament