CASEY PARLETTE
MEDIUM
Sculpture
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Nature is the ultimate teacher. Using wood, metal and stone, I strive to capture the essence of the lessons I’ve learned.”
ARTIST BIO
With the natural world as a never-ending source of inspiration and subject matter, sculpture artist Casey Parlette uses a wide variety of materials and techniques to capture the characteristics of a plant or animal. Based in Laguna Beach, California, Casey’s sculpture work focuses on the use of various metal, wood and stone materials to capture the life and likeness of the wildlife he’s honoring. From an octopus that’s been forged and welded of bronze to a hermit crab carved from stone, he chooses from different natural elements in an effort to have each piece resemble as much as possible the natural patterns, colors, and textures of the subject matter. The wavy pattern in curly redwood, for example, is similar to the stripes of a tiger shark, and a large manzanita burl may give way to an octopus once the wood around it is carved away.
Growing up in Southern California, Casey spent a lot of time exploring the nearby hills and ocean. Inspired by the wildlife he saw, he began sculpting at a young age. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in anthropology, Casey was recruited to work as a commercial diver before being hired as a career ocean lifeguard in Laguna Beach. During vacations and between jobs, Casey has operated underwater cameras in exotic seas for the TV series Inside Sportfishing and adventured into remote areas of the world. For eight months, Casey lived in the Peruvian Amazon where he discovered a previously unknown species of fish, which has been officially classified as Rivulus parlettei.
Casey’s work evokes the movement and essence of his subject matter, reflecting a lifetime spent observing these creatures in their natural habitats. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind sculpture that culminates in his unique process of wood carving, stone carving, blacksmithing and metal fabrication.
A naturalist at heart, Casey credits both his adventures and his studies with inspiring and influencing his art. Currently sculpting full-time, Casey lives in Laguna Beach with his wife, Gina, and their sons, Brooks and Koa.
