Ever seen a pile of wood, metal, and random materials and thought, “That could be a masterpiece”? Leonardo Drew actually does that — and the results are 🔥.
Drew transforms everyday materials — wood, cotton, paper, and oxidized metal — into monumental sculptures that pulse with energy. His work explores the tension between order and chaos, creation and decay, giving viewers the sense that something is constantly in motion, always evolving.
🧱 Think of it like: if nature and the city had a creative baby that loved structure and entropy. Each piece feels like it’s breathing — history, memory, and transformation layered into one.
Drew even brought that same energy to Portland, visiting The Lobby and spending time with local middle school students to discuss his process, materials, and how imagination can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
From his Brooklyn studio to major museums around the world, Drew builds immersive environments that invite us to slow down, look closer, and feel time itself. He doesn’t just make art — he builds universes.
Leonardo Drew, Number 73S, 2019, wood and paint, 64 96 x 32 inches
Leonardo Drew, Number 178, 129, 180, 2015, wood, plaster, and paint, 24.0 x 25.0 x 6.5 inches
Sima is the curator of The Lobby – https://ellenbrowningbuilding.com/the-lobby/