Mare & Foal by Katherine Dewey, Galvanised Steel, Unique, 350cms wide, Animals and Birds, Nature sculpture
Mare & Foal by Katherine Dewey stretches across 350 centimeters of galvanised steel, forming a tender, life-affirming portrait of a mother horse and her young offspring. Dewey shapes the pair from wire-like steel lines, and rather than enclosing the bodies, she opens them to space. As a result, the sculpture feels both delicate and alive, as though the animals breathe through the gaps in their forms.
At first glance, the mare appears calm and steady, her posture gently angled toward her foal. The foal, in turn, nestles close, leaning into her presence with youthful confidence. Their interaction goes beyond anatomy; Dewey captures the emotional rhythm of care and dependence through posture alone. Moreover, the fluid curves of steel sketch out muscles, hips, and necks without locking them into rigid realism. The suggestion of movement lingers in every sweeping line, giving the impression that the two might shift at any moment, nudging forward into a soft walk.
The choice of galvanised steel adds another layer of meaning. The silvery, slightly industrial surface contrasts with the organic subject matter, yet it also reflects light in a remarkably natural way. Sunlight filters through the open framework, creating shifting silhouettes on the ground, further animating the composition. In a garden setting, wind and light collaborate with the sculpture, making it feel like part of the landscape rather than a static object imposed upon it.
