Featured image: Vitruvian Man, Jonathan Bowling, 2013, repurposed steel, 7 x 7 x 2 in. / 17.78 x 17.78 x 5.08 cm.
Jonathan Bowling’s sculptures breathe new life into discarded steel, transforming industrial remnants into powerful, mythic figures.
Jonathan Bowling turns repurposed steel into sculptures that celebrate myth, nature, and storytelling, blending industrial materials with timeless narratives.
Each piece draws viewers into a world where rust and rivets tell timeless stories, revealing the beauty within decay.
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Dragon, Jonathan Bowling, 2020, repurposed steel, 7 x 6 x 10 ft. / 84 x 72 x 120 in.
In Dragon, Bowling melds steel remnants into a creature of grandeur and motion. The sculpture’s curved wings, composed of saw blades and metal panels, rise dramatically, resembling the skeletal frame of a mythic beast ready to take flight. Its textured body—layers of circular metal forms—captures a sense of strength, endurance, and fierce elegance. The use of rusted steel underscores the tension between decay and rebirth, as though the dragon has emerged from the remains of forgotten industry. Bowling’s dragon embodies humanity’s fascination with mythical guardians, inviting viewers to reflect on both the power of imagination and the impermanence of material creations.
Cernunos, Jonathan Bowling, 2019, repurposed steel, 7.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 ft. / 90 x 30 x 30 in.
Cernunnos brings ancient mythology to life, depicting the Celtic horned god of nature, fertility, and wild places. With its seated form and antlered head, this sculpture blends human and natural elements seamlessly. The artist’s choice of repurposed steel lends the figure an otherworldly, almost primordial presence—as though it were forged from earth itself. Details like mechanical gears, curved metal scraps, and sinewy limbs create an intricate tension between the organic and the industrial. Standing amidst lush greenery, Cernunnos feels at home in the wild, a spirit of nature both serene and commanding. Bowling captures the essence of a deity who bridges the human and natural worlds, a reminder of our deep and ancient connection to the earth.
Don Quixote, Jonathan Bowling, 2011, repurposed steel, 14 x 2.5 x 7 ft. / 168 x 30 x 84 in.
With Don Quixote, Jonathan Bowling pays homage to Cervantes’ legendary tale of idealism and folly. The towering figure of Don Quixote astride his steely steed stands as a monument to imagination and perseverance. Constructed from repurposed steel and industrial parts, the knight’s armor and lance feel both weighty and whimsical—epic dreams forged from discarded reality. Beside him, Sancho Panza and his donkey offer a grounded counterpoint, their smaller frames crafted with equal care. Bowling’s use of recycled materials adds a layer of commentary: like Don Quixote’s quest to see the extraordinary in the mundane, the sculpture transforms forgotten scraps into a story of hope and adventure. It’s a visual celebration of how art reimagines the world.
Jonathan Bowling’s Dragon, Cernunnos, and Don Quixote transcend their industrial origins, proving that discarded materials hold immense potential for storytelling. His sculptures explore themes of mythology, nature, and timeless literary narratives, while the rusted steel reminds us of cycles of decay and renewal. Through his work, Bowling transforms the forgotten into legends, inviting viewers to see beauty in resilience and imagination.
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Cow and Calf, Jonathan Bowling, 2016, repurposed steel, 4.5 x 2 x 7 ft. / 54 x 24 x 84 in.
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