Will Budgett

Country where you live:

United Kingdom

City where you live:

Kirtlington

Website:

http://willbudgett.co.uk

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/will.budgett.studio/

Statement :

You begin with darkness. You see the shadows first, elegant and fluid, and only then trace the origins back to the jagged abstraction before you.

I begin with light. I chase the silhouettes that are yet to emerge, letting the shadow guide my hand to the sculpture’s existence.

We meet in the middle, questioning how something so raw could birth such grace.

Rosie

Rosie is all about contrasts - solid, angular scrap-metal paired with the delicate, flowing shadows of dancers. There’s something so magical about the way the heavy, industrial form meets the weightless grace of light. Rosie is Will’s way of exploring that balance between strength and fragility, permanence and those fleeting moments we often overlook. She’s a little bit bold, a little bit ethereal, and totally unique.

Work Credit:

Will Budgett

Ascend

This abstract sculpture by Will Budgett creates a captivating shadow display when illuminated, projecting the ethereal forms of two dancers onto the wall. The shadows appear to rise gracefully, as if floating, bringing a sense of weightlessness and fluid motion to the piece. Crafted with careful attention to both the physical and shadow elements, the interplay between light and form evokes a feeling of suspended motion. The floating dancers seem to ascend in perfect harmony, adding an otherworldly elegance to the space. The piece comes complete with a light and base installation, as shown in the image, allowing the interplay of light and shadow to bring the artwork to life.

Work Credit:

Will Budgett

Manon

The dancers’ shadows appear weightless, their flowing shapes reminiscent of delicate fabric in motion, creating an ethereal atmosphere. The contrast between the rough, textured structure of the sculpture and the refined, graceful forms of its shadows highlights the harmony of opposing forces’ solidity and lightness, chaos and beauty.

Work Credit:

Will Budgett

Challenge

This piece is part of a larger collection of a herd of deer. The shadows of history through a herd of deer that once lived, roamed, fought and fed on the land.

Work Credit:

Will Budgett

Tiny Dancers V

This sculpture by Will Budgett casts a striking shadow of two dancers when illuminated. The transparency of the resin contrasts with the solid, defined shadows it produces on the wall. The shadow forms, captured in fluid motion, appear more tangible than the sculpture itself, creating an intriguing dynamic between the ethereal material and its solid counterpart.

Work Credit:

Will Budgett

Bio:

Will Budgett is a self-taught sculptor whose work explores the dynamic relationship between light, shadow, and form. Drawing inspiration from the grace and fluidity of ballet, his abstract sculptures, when illuminated by multiple light sources, cast shadows that reveal identifiable shapes. The contrast between his often non-figurative sculptures and the elegant shadows creates a dialogue between stillness and motion, visibility and concealment.

By sculpting with the shadows in mind, Will allows light to shape the physical form, making the shadow as integral to the piece as the sculpture itself. Light becomes a storyteller, unveiling and concealing aspects of the work to highlight the hidden elements within each piece. His art seeks to illuminate forgotten spaces, creating captivating focal points in the overlooked corners of our lives.

A former design and advertising student, Will made his first shadow sculpture at 17 and showcased his work in the Saatchi Gallery a year later. Since then, his shadow sculptures have been featured in exhibitions around the world, where they continue to captivate audiences with their unique blend of physical form and perceptual complexity.