Étienne Bergstrom, a senior, is Northwest Academy’s resident sculptor and is currently working on honing his skills for a career in design.
Bergstrom takes inspiration from 20th century sculpture artists Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore and Louise Bourgeois. He incorporates aspects of their work like abstract shapes and form and skewed perceptions into his own pieces.
“I’m really trying to cultivate my own style through fun shapes, crazy colors, distorted faces and out of this world appearances,” Bergstrom says.
Throughout his schooling, Bergstrom has practiced painting and drawing and even dabbled in sculpting as a kid. These creations were namely Barbie houses and Transformers weapons made out of paper, but Bergstrom recognizes them as earlier inclinations for sculpting nonetheless.
In school, Bergstrom was less interested in English, math and science than he was in art where he found he could express his already creative voice in a different way.
“[Art is] a way in which I can not only explore and try new things, but find happiness and excitement in the everyday,” says Bergstrom.
At this point in time, Bergstrom considers sculptures to be his “thing,” but is wary of limiting himself to just one medium. He prefers to experiment with his art but finds a certain tactile experience in sculpting.
“With sculptures, I can go in and make it myself and if I don’t like it, I can just change it,” Bergstrom says.
Bergstrom uses two main techniques to build his sculptures: plaster or clay. To build a plaster sculpture, Bergstrom layers aluminum wire, foil and tape under plaster gauze and liquid plaster. This method results in an almost “unbreakable” figure.
Clay sculptures, as Bergstrom constructs them, are made of newspaper wrapped in Scotch tape which is then covered in a garbage bag, all under the clay. With clay models, Bergstrom is able to carve away at and add clay onto what he has until he is satisfied with the form.
“In the end you let it dry,” says Bergstrom, “With clay you want to fire it in a kiln so it’s not as delicate and as breakable.”
Bergstrom’s interest in art comes from the power he finds it holds and the message he feels everyone can relate to.
“Art is not only a universal language. […] It’s talking about lived experiences, philosophy, trauma, math, and science,” says Bergstom, “It is literally every part of life in one. It’s how the artist is able to communicate that and express it through their work.”
Bergstrom learns not only from other artists and their work, but from his own creative process.
“Every time you’re making something, you’re learning something not only about yourself, but about the world,” Bergstrom says.
As a senior, Bergstrom is looking into his future after graduation. He hopes to attend an art institute to study design and is applying to Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Sarah Lawrence College and Rhode Island School of Design.
