John Sumner is a Los Angeles based sculptor whose work blends field study, public interaction and traditional craft. After two decades in the entertainment and production design world, he returned to sculpture as a way to reconnect with materials, movement, and the immediacy of working from life.

Sumner’s practice centers on observation - whether sculpting at the zoo in his ongoing Artist In The Wild series or developing larger site specific projects for public and sacred spaces. He thrives on the unpredictability of working outside the studio, letting gesture, posture, and personality guide the early stages of each piece. Years spent in design and production inform his approach: practical problem solving paired with a sensitivity to narrative, atmosphere and scale. His work mainly consists of bronze, but will also combine metal with wood, stone and mixed materials, creating forms that feel grounded, expressive and built by hand. Above all, Sumner sees sculpture as a conversation between the artist, subject, and environment - and continues to expand his practice through commissions, collaborations, and field based study.