Janet Rutkowski

 

STATEMENT

“Great art, whether it be visual, sculptural, functional or audio, has a presence, a spirit which it truly felt. I seek to incorporate that presence, that spirit into every piece I create. Art is an unfounded religion whose inspiration comes from a divine source. the power is within each of us, and we should use it in everything we do, in all walks of life. It is the power of transformation. Transformation of the mundane into the divine.”

During my childhood and lifetime, two major influences have shaped my artistic journey: art, with a primary focus on drawing, and a passion for reading. I have consistently been drawn to themes of sci-fi, fantasy, ancient cultures, myths, the occult, and the metaphysical. These elements contribute to the aura embodied in my steel sculptures. Also the theme of escape through the exploration of portals, rifts, and alternative universes. Through the utilization of found objects and reclaimed steel new life is given to discarded materials, transforming the outcast into art—a truly alchemical process.

BIOGRAPHY

Education:

High School of Art & Design, NYC.

Studied Stone Carving with Sculptor Arturo Di Modica, NYC.

Studied Stone, clay and wood with Sabastiano and Ron Mineo, Art Life Craft Studios, NYC.

Studied Welding at Sculpture Center, NYC.

Select Exhibitions

2026