Mykola Kulishov

Artist Statement

I am a self-trained woodworker and artist. ? have been working with wood for more than 30 years. Originally from Ukraine, I currently live in California. My works explore the beauty and character that exist in wood, often as a result of environmental conditions. In that regard, wood is like a person: stress and living conditions develop interesting character in both. Much of the wood used in my sculptures is salvaged wood, repurposed from felled trees in the Bay area, trees that are given a second life in a new form. Every detail of my works is carefully sculpted, allowing you to appreciate the graceful curves, intricate textures, and lifelike forms that adorn these sculptures. The rich, warm tones of wood infuse your space with a sense of tranquility and a connection to the earth. Using carving techniques that I learned in my native Ukraine and perfected here, in the USA, wood carving has become my creative refuge. My works have been featured at art exhibitions in San Francisco, Kyiv, Palo Alto, and other cities in California, Canada and Ukraine.

The art and form of my sculpture is inspired by the beauty of the salvaged wood that became spalted with time. I never liked lathing. I find it restrictive. The Curvature of Space is a piece inspired by the mathematical freedom of non-orientable topological surfaces. Its handle-loops are reminiscent of Mbius strips, single-sided surfaces with no boundaries. Their precise fluidity is an artistic reverie and a mathematical feat, like Space molded by Gravity.

The figurative and narrative implications of the Mbius strip are rich: when you try to go forward, you ring sideways, when you try to circle in, you find yourself outside. It?s an apt allegory for losing control. We might ask ourselves after 2020, where are we? Have we spun around after so much chaos, and found our position stagnated, back where we started? Or are we at a new beginning?

Introducing my exquisite wood hand-carved bowls and vases, a true testament to craftsmanship and nature's beauty. Each of these sculptures is a unique masterpiece, meticulously carved from a single log of salvaged wood with its durability and distinct grain patterns.
I pour my passion and expertise into each piece, bringing out the natural beauty of salvaged wood through intricate carving techniques. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece of art that captures the essence of nature's elegance.
Every detail is carefully sculpted, allowing you to appreciate the graceful curves, intricate textures, and lifelike forms that adorn these sculptures. The rich, warm tones of wood infuse your space with a sense of tranquility and a connection to the earth.
Whether displayed prominently in your home or offered as a thoughtful gift, my wood Hand-Carved Sculptures are a celebration of nature's beauty and the artistry of skilled hands. Each piece carries a unique story and invites you to embrace the harmony between art and the natural world.
Elevate your living space with the timeless elegance of our Wood Hand-Carved Sculpture, a masterpiece that embodies the art of nature.