BFA
THESIS EXHIBITION
TRAVIS HUNT

In my current work, I wrestle figurative forms into exaggerated contortions that evoke different types of emotional responses from my body. I allow the clay surfaces in the works to reveal their own construction along with the tool marks to transmit a sense of life and movement. 

Referencing classical studies of anatomy, I build larger than life hands, skulls, torsos, and other parts that I arrange to build narratives. Monumental masculine hands set the scale to show a child / father figure dynamic but place a skull in its palm and allegories of Creation, death, and struggle begin to take shape. The imagery that emerges from combining the parts becomes revelatory, uncovering unconscious experiences involving my past relationships and personal hardship. Visual stories of my connection to my father, God and to myself start to build, giving me insight that I could not find through thought alone. These groups inform themes for the following larger works, which allow the narrative to develop even further. 

With half my life involved in public art, it’s important to me that the work is approachable. I rely on the language of the figure to convey my most personal experiences universally, while extending an invitation of connection to the viewer. 

Travis Hunt is an artist and sculptor currently based in Fairfield, IA. His work grapples with topics such as spirituality, Recovery and masculinity. Hunt has spent his entire professional life in private art studios, art foundries and commercial art studios. He has been commissioned for and collaborated on numerous life size bronze works across Iowa, working with Max-Cast Art Foundry and artists such as Chris Bennett.

From 2005-2015, Hunt worked as lead designer at Bovard Studios Stained Glass (Fairfield, IA), where he designed hundreds of custom windows for large scale installations across the United States, including Dakota Dunes Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Dakota Dunes, SD and locally at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fairfield. With Creative Edge (Fairfield, IA) Hunt was also lead designer at Creative Edge Studio (Fairfield, IA) from 2015-2020 where he gained experience working with industrial water jet cutting machines and all types of materials from stainless steel to semi precious stone. There he designed artistic installations and interesting surfaces for private mansions, casinos, airports and public art parks. Along with the technical skills Hunt was also key in facilitating work with numerous artists and committees to accomplish large scale installations, notably with the Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada, where his designs of two 16-foot medallions were chosen for permanent installation. 

Hunt is a 2024 BFA Candidate at Maharishi International University where he will have his BFA Thesis exhibition at the Wege Art Gallery. Hunt will pursue his MFA to continue his journey to becoming a teacher and share the diverse skills he has learned through his lifelong unconventional art education.