John Brickels is a Red terracotta and stoneware clay artist who lives in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was raised in Akron, Ohio, and attended the University of Akron. Every morning, he would ride along the streets of Akron to school and would watch the many houses and factories pass by in his rear-view mirror. With each building he passed, his fascination with architecture grew and sparked the inspiration for his works. “As an art form, sculpture lets you design four sides instead of one. I like that.”
He sculpts architecturally-themed sculptures that show the effects of time, weatherization, and entropy. He also creates artwork that reflects factory and machine imagery of his childhood Rust-Belt home in Akron, Ohio. Since moving to Lowell 5 years ago, John has enjoyed sculpting mill buildings using red terracotta clay.
John has exhibited his works internationally and showcased his sculptures with the Smithsonian Institute, Shelburne Museum in Vermont, and Springfield Museum Group in Springfield, Massachusetts. The City of San Antonio, Texas commissioned John to create sculptures of the Spanish Missions, which were presented to visiting dignitaries including President George Bush Sr., King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, Placid Domingo, and Pope John Paul II. He is a member of the Whistler House Museum of Art and has been on exhibition there.
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