Meet Sally Thornton | Sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sally Thornton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sally, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My artistic career began as a reaction. I was frustrated at the end of a long career in the film industry where I was working in art departments as a set designer. I felt dismissed, underrepresented, and ghosted. I wanted to take control over my time, my space, and my opinions. Sculpting gave me a way to move forward in such a positive way. Once I started sculpting, there was no turning back. I first had ideas about pieces I wanted to sculpt, then more ideas followed. I eventually needed a proper room of my own, and my art practice grew as I gave it time and space. I am still following where it leads me. And that feels important. It has been a long time coming–that important feeling. An art practice is both a sturdy solid anchor, and an ephemeral vapor. I have learned to let it guide me in both states. It is such a magical thing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I make small bronze sculptures about daily life. They are representational, figurative, and narrative. While humor and whimsy are at the heart of my work, sometimes I play with a bit of abstraction and symbolism. The life I am living is important enough to portray as it comes to me. I hope others find similar experiences to the ones I am living. I am most proud to keep listening to that inner voice, that sometimes gets dismissed. Maybe that’s when it needs to get louder. The whole art journey hasn’t been easy. In fact, one of my first pieces took 6 years and I heard so many “no- you can’t do it that way” comments that I just grew some teflon coating for myself. Waking up and continuing is a daily practice. Turns out, whatever they are saying doesn’t really change the process. At the end of the day, I’m proud that I use my hands to make things. I think that’s what I would like the tombstone to say. I used my hands to make things.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
oh wow. Los Angeles is huge.
Probably any museum. Maybe many of them. The big ones, and the smaller ones.
The Getty Center, The Broad, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Huntington Library, The Norton Simon Museum.
Can’t miss the beach. Fish tacos.
And people watching. Either at the beach or downtown.
And maybe some beautiful drives- Laurel Canyon and those crazy homes on stilts, some mountain hikes, some desert views.
Simple stuff. that’s me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, biggest thanks to my husband Doug DeWaay who nudges me in all the right ways. My friend Amy Wheeler who is on a similar creative journey and understands creative issues of all varieties. She helps in the darkest of creative holes, as well as the brightest ones. And I have an amazing support team at Two Ravens Studio (foundry) in Tacoma, WA : Ed Kroupa (owner and sculptor), Nichole Rathburn (all things foundry and artist), and Jonathan Kuzma (patina artist) have all been not only gentle powerful encouragement, but amazing artists and technicians, and good friends. Also Kristine Schomaker (juror) who selected one of my sculptures to include in the TAG LA OPEN 2024 juried show. That changed my life in every way. It changed the way I thought about myself and my work. I’m sure she has no idea. And Marcie Maute who is always rooting me on, and shows up for all the things.

Website: https://sallythornton.art

Instagram: sallythorntonart