Mick Doellinger

Mick Doellinger strives to capture the essence of an animal and hopes his viewers will connect with his sculptures in some way. “For me, it’s less about creating a perfect replica of the animal, and more about sculpting a narrative or moment in time.” Doellinger has spent his entire life working with and around animals in some capacity, and believes his time in the field, studying the subjects and the environments they occupy, is critical to his creative process. This lifelong accumulation of hands-on knowledge has given him unique insights into the anatomy, movements, and behavior of the animals.

“My earlier work was much more literal, but over time I’ve preferred to not ‘overwork’ the clay. With this looser style, collectors of my work will continue to notice something they hadn’t seen before, even if it’s just a partial fingerprint or smudge. These slight ‘imperfections’ are a reminder of the hands-on sculpting process, kept frozen in the finished bronze.”

Although he’s been sculpting for most of his life, Mick continues to be inspired by new possibilities and feels his best years are still ahead of him. An Elected Member of the National Sculpture Society, the Society of Animal Artists, and the California Art Club, Doellinger’s sculptures are exhibited in galleries, museums, and private collections around the world. His most recent awards include the 2023 Marion and Gilbert Roller Memorial Prize for Corriente at the National Sculpture Society’s 90th Annual Awards Exhibition; the 2022 Most Outstanding and Creative 3D Work for Closing In at the Society of Animal Artists 62nd Annual Juried Exhibition; and the 2021 Bob Kuhn Wildlife Award for Higher Ground and the 2020 Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation Award for Sculpture for American Icon at Masters of the American West.

Mick Doellinger is represented by Animal Art Gallery, Paris, France; Astoria Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming; Fama Fine Art, Houston, Texas; InSight Gallery, Fredericksburg, Texas; Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles, California; McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, Oregon; Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, Arizona; and the Wykeham Gallery, Stockbridge, Hampshire, England.

View the Autry’s interview with Mick Doellinger here. Recorded live January/2023.