PROFILE
Biography
Cody Joseph Swanson was born in Minneapolis, MN and currently resides in Florence, Italy with his wife and four children. Cody holds an M.A. in Liturgy, Sacred Art and Architecture from the European University in Rome, and spent five consecutive years teaching sculpture with the Florence Academy of Art where he also studied sculpture. Recently Cody has completed three major projects with the acclaimed architect Duncan G Stroik for the Cathedrals of Sioux Falls and Minneapolis along with the Basilica of the National Shrine to Mary of Holy Hill, Wisconsin. He was also given the tremendous honor from the Cardinal of Florence, His Eminence Guiseppe Betori, to produce a 4-meter sculpture depicting St. Emygdius for the Cathedral of Foligno and a silver processional cross for the Cathedral of Florence.
As a sculptor Cody works primarily in clay, plaster, bronze and marble with extensive experience and capability throughout every phase of production. His training in the figurative tradition provides an indispensable connection to the visual language of representational art, while lending an informed perspective on aesthetics and the creative processes of design and composition. His participation in project commissions and teaching positions have afforded him numerous oppotunities to work cooperatively with companies, clientele, administrative officials, and students, as well as to aptly organize budgets, timetables, and teaching regimen. As an instructor, Cody provides students with an intensive curriculum and individual assessment, designed to help students achieve self-sufficiency in evaluating their own work and motivate them toward personal achievement.
As a Catholic father, husband, sculptor and teacher, Cody hopes the fruit of his labor will give glory to God and reflect His truth into the hearts of many.
Specialized Skills
- Extensive, practical design experience from years of direct collaboration with famed architects, bronze foundries and stone practitioners for important commissions.
- Comprehensive technical expertise with clay enlargement or reduction of original site specific concept and models.
- Wide ranging direct experience with all casting practices, including silicon mold making, plaster and synthetic resin casting, and lost wax casting for final realization in bronze/silver.
- Stone carving and experience with modern technological advances relevant to the practice, specifically 3-dimensional laser scanning for mechanical translation to marble.
Education
| 2009-10 |
University of Rome, Regina Apostolorum
MA in Sacred Art, Liturgy, and Architecture |
| 2003-06 |
The Florence Academy of Art, Intensive Drawing and Sculpture Certificate Program |
Teaching Experience
| 2012-14 |
Sacred Art School of Florence, Italy, Principle Sculpting Instructor
- Created an independently designed sculpture curriculum, structured to provide thorough education of iconography, compositional exercise, and draw connections to relevant examples of virtuosity and expression in art history. The chief aim of said program is to give students the necessary formation to work independently and creatively with a sophisticated visual vocabulary and technical expertise.
- Worked with body of international students and regularly delivered course material in Italian.
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| 2011-13 |
Club Prato, Italy 'Piccolo Michelangelo', Sculpting and General Formation for children ages 9-14
- Developed a curriculum for young sculpture students, as an introduction to the general principles of sculpture with a simultaneous focus on character building.
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| 2006-11 |
The Florence Academy of Art Sculpture Program, Principle Instructor |
| 2007-09 |
The Florence Academy of Art Drawing in Sculpture Program, Instructor |
| 2007 |
Sculpture Workshop in Schwanden, Switzerland |
Selected Honors
| 2014 |
North American Copper in Architecture Award for Ornamental Applications |
| 2007 |
First Place, Art Renewal Center Annual Salon Competition |
| 2007 |
Art Renewal Center Purchase Award |
| 2006 |
Florence Academy of Art Sculpture of the Year Award |
| 2006 |
First Place, Art Renewal Center Annual Scholarship Competition |
| 2006 |
Art Renewal Center Purchase Award |
| 2005 |
Second Place, Art Renewal Center Annual Scholarship Competition |
Sculpture Commissions
(for images please visit: http://www.codyswanson.com/portfolio.html)
| 2014 |
Life-size bronze figure of St. Michael with Trisagion staff and paten bearing the Volto Santo of Manoppello, coupled with white Carrara marble pedestal, for Saint Patrick's Church of New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Original conception and design of both figurative and architectural elements
- Figure enlargement from model
- Execution of Silicon mold
- Finishing of both of the marble and metal, including patination
- Personal oversight and organization of all budgeted production costs, shipping, and on-site installation
|
| 2014 |
Life-size Madonna and Christ Child sculpted in Carrara marble for the new chapel of Campus Bio-Medico in Rome, Italy.
- Original figurative composition
- Execution of Silicon mold
- Figure enlargement from model
- Completion and refinishing in marble
- Personal oversight and organization of all budgeted production costs, shipping, and on-site installation
|
| 2013 |
Bronze panel reliefs figuring the Annunciation, Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Teresa for the entry doors of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Holy Hill, Wisconsin.
- Original multi-figure compositions, executed in cooperation with architectural designs by Duncan Stroik
- Silicon mold
- Refinishing of the bronze
- Personal oversight and coordination of shipment and bronze investiture
|
| 2012 |
Processional 'Patriarchal' cross for the historic Duomo of Florence, fashioned of cast silver and cypress wood, commissioned by the Opera del Duomo as a gift for Cardinal Giuseppe Betori of Florence, Italy.
- Scaled modeled figure in wax
- Silicon mold
- Original ornamental design featured in the cross, staff and lettering
- Oversight of investiture and refinishing of the cast silver figure
- Coordination of all aspects fo production including carving, silversmithing, and management of manufacturing costs
|
| 2012 |
Two angels and Saint Cecilia figure for the new organ case of the historic St. Paul Cathedral in St. Paul, MN, in collaboration with acclaimed architect Duncan Stroik.
- Original multi-figure composition
- Silicon mold and plaster reproduction
|
| 2010-11 |
Four meter figure (13.12 feet) depicting 'St. Emygdius' for the Cathedral of Foligno, Italy. Commissioned by Cardinal Guiseppe Betori.
- Original composition, created with consideration for site-specific parameters
- Enlargement of a scale model figure to final dimensions
- Silicon mold of the model, and plaster piece mold of the sculpture at the final scale
- Armature design, casting and construction of the final piece
- Management of transportation and installation, as well as all budgeted production costs
|
| 2009-11 |
Over 20 works for the restoration of St. Joseph Cathedral of Sioux Falls, SD. Created in collaboration with acclaimed architect Duncan Stroik, commissioned by Bishop Paul J. Swain and the Winkles Group Co.
- Various original figurative compositions
- Execution of numerous sculpted architectural and ornamental elements
- All mold making and translation of the work into the determined material
- Refinishing of all stone and metal work, including patination
- Consistent revisal, consultation, and submission of written periodic progress reports to the commissioning body and architecture firm
- Management of transportation, installation, and production costs
Works include:
- A life-size crucifix in bronze
- Four life-size angels in plaster with gold leaf
- Three tabernacle doors in bronze
- A baptismal font lid in bronze
- Baptismal font panels in marble
- St. Joseph and St. Mary monogram panels in marble
- Angel relief with Chi Rho for the high altar in marble
- Pelican relief for the altar of repose in marble
- Two lilies for the altar of repose in marble
- Ambo relief and pediment frieze in marble
- Holy spirit and crown of thorns in plaster
- Holy spirit in wood
|
| 2010 |
Crucifix for the oratory of Opus Dei in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Management of all aspects of production, including the mold, investment, finishing and transportation
|
| 2010 |
Bronze altar reliefs depicting 'St. Peter' and 'St. Paul' for a chapel of Opus Dei, Lublijana, Slovenia.
- Original figure compositions
- Completion and oversight of all aspects of production
|
| 2008 |
Crucifix for the oratory of Accademia dei Ponti, Florence, Italy. |
Selected Collections
- Springfield Museum of Art, Springville, Utah: life-size female figure of 'Eve' in bronze.
- Collection of Fred Ross, Chairman of the Art Renewal Center, New Vernon, New Jersey: life-size male figure of 'Adam' in bronze.
- Palazzo Archivescovale of Florence, Italy: terracotta portrait of 'St. Peter.'
Exhibitions
| 2011 |
Alumni of the Florence Academy Exhibit, Galerie Michael, Beverly Hills, CA |
| 2010 |
Fifth Alumni Exhibition of the Florence Academy of Art |
| 2009 |
Summer Show, Jorgensen Fine Art Ltd, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2009 |
Fourth Alumni Exhibit of the Florence Academy of Art |
| 2008 |
10th Anniversary Show, Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY |
| 2008 |
Young Masters Show, Cavalier Galleries, Nantucket, MA |
| 2008 |
Midsummer Garden Sculpture Exhibit, Gormley's Fine Art, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2008 |
Spring Exhibit, Cavalier Galleries, Nantucket, MA |
| 2008 |
Alumni of the Florence Academy Show, WH Patterson, London, England |
| 2007 |
"Classical Sculpture Today," Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY |
| 2007 |
Third Alumni Show of the Florence Academy of Art |
| 2007 |
Summer Exhibition, Jorgensen Fine Art Ltd, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2007 |
Alumni of the Florence Academy Show, WH Patterson, London, England |
| 2006 |
Winter Sculpture Exhibition, Jorgensen Fine Art Ltd, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2006 |
Summer Exhibition, Jorgensen Fine Art Ltd, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2006 |
Italian Realism Revisited, Solomon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2006 |
Second Annual Alumni Show, WH Patterson, London, England |
| 2006 |
Spring Sculpture Exhibition, Jorgensen Fine Art Ltd, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2006 |
Second Alumni Exhibition of the Florence Academy of Art |
| 2005 |
Joint Exhibition with Florence Academy Students, WH Patterson, London, England |
| 2005 |
First Alumni Exhibition of the Florence Academy of Art |
Current Gallery Representation:
- Galerie Michael, Beverly Hills, CA
- Cavalier Galleries, Nantucket, MA
- Grenning Gallery, Sag Harbor, NY
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