This striking abstract bronze sculpture by Sanford “Sandy” Decker exemplifies the expressive, modernist figurative work for which the artist is well known. Dated 1968, the sculpture presents a highly stylized standing figure, elongated and asymmetrical in form, with an emphasis on movement, balance, and raw sculptural energy. The surface is finished in a rich chocolate-brown patina that has aged beautifully over time, revealing subtle bronze highlights along the raised contours and edges, adding depth, warmth, and visual complexity.
The integrated bronze base is an intentional and cohesive element of the composition, grounding the figure while reinforcing its vertical presence. Decker’s confident handling of mass and negative space reflects the sculptural language of mid-century abstraction, bridging the human form and pure expression. The sculpture is signed “Decker” and dated “68” on the base, confirming its period authenticity. This abstract bronze sculpture by Sanford Decker is a sophisticated and collectible work, ideal for collectors of modern and mid-century sculpture or for designers seeking a visually compelling focal piece.
“Sanford Decker is a sculptor in Los Angeles, California. He is the founder of Decker Studios, a fine arts foundry and atelier in North Hollywood, California. In Michigan, Decker apprenticed at the Detroit Sculpture Foundry, where he was involved with international sculptors and their monumental public art projects. In 1968 Decker was selected to be a member of the federally supported arts collective, “The ?ommon Ground of the Arts.” It was during this time that Decker built his own foundry in Detroit in order to cast his own sculpture commissions and mount the first European exhibit with a London show in 1969. In the early 1970’s Decker moved to Southern California, where he settled in the Santa Monica Mountains. Shortly after arriving he built his new foundry, gallery and studios in order to create and exhibit his art. Inspired by the natural environment and its geological transformations, he began a new period of organically inspired sculptures and drawings including his Earth Shields and Earth Totem series. Now in his sixth decade of creation, Sanford continues to consult for Museums and art foundries while exploring new ways to express his connection to the natural world through physical form. ” ( from decker-sculpture online).
