Sculpture Appraisal

Michael Wilkinson Limited Edition

"Crystal Fire" - Limited edition acrylic sculpture by Michael Wilkinson, 17½" height

We recently completed a sculpture appraisal for a private client's art collection, which included this lovely and striking piece by well known contemporary American sculptor, Michael Wilkinson.

Michael Wilkinson is a renowned American sculptor, celebrated especially for pioneering figurative sculpture in clear acrylic. His work gracefully blends classical romanticism with contemporary aesthetics, drawing deeply from both humanist and minimalist influences.

Sculpture Appraisal

• California Roots & Air Force Service Wilkinson was born and raised in Northern California. He was selected for an elite art honors program in high school, demonstrating early artistic promise. Following graduation during the Vietnam War era, he served in the U.S. Air Force as an illustrator in Tokyo, Japan. There, he immersed himself in sumi brush painting, Japanese architecture, and calligraphy—disciplines whose harmony and subtlety left a lasting imprint on his artistic sensibility.

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• Education & Architectural Influence After military service, Wilkinson earned a degree in architectural engineering at California State University, San Luis Obispo. He then briefly worked under architect Olof Dahlstrand in Carmel, California, sculpting at night in his own studio. In 1979, he journeyed through Europe to study the masters of ancient Greece and the Renaissance. Back in New York City, he refined his sculpting skills through formal training at the Art Students League and the New York Academy of Art.

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Artistic Evolution

• From Bronze to Acrylic In the early 1980s, Wilkinson worked primarily in bronze and received portrait commissions. In 1984, he discovered clear acrylic (also referred to as Lucite), captivated by its optical properties and expressive potential. Acrylic allowed him to sculpt with light and volume in new and imaginative ways—his works became luminous, layer-rich, and intriguingly timeless.

• Acrylic as a Sculptural Medium Unlike traditional mediums, Wilkinson’s acrylic sculptures are often fully three-dimensional and viewable from any angle. “These acrylic sculptures have no beginning and no end; no back and no front,” he explains—inviting viewers to engage them in a holistic, immersive way.

  
  

Themes & Aesthetic

Wilkinson’s art is deeply rooted in capturing both the physical and spiritual beauty of humanity. His figures evoke romance, introspection, passion, and profound emotion. Influenced by classical traditions and modern sensibilities, his work often reflects an ethereal quality—melding realism with abstraction, solidity with transparency.

There's frequent comparison between Wilkinson and Frederick Hart, another sculptor known for romantic figurative artistry. Their shared exploration of spiritual and idealized themes places them in a common artistic lineage.

Professional Achievements

• Recognition & Exhibitions Wilkinson has exhibited his work internationally in one-man gallery shows and continues to attract collectors around the globe

• Lectures & Judging He’s been invited by the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York to judge their juried sculpture shows. Additionally, he's offered lectures and guided tours on sculptural aesthetics and philosophy at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

  
  

Selected Works & Market Presence

Wilkinson’s oeuvre includes limited-edition acrylic sculptures, many of which are highly sought after by collectors. Notable titles include Oracle, Rhapsody, Turning Point, New Dawn, Temple, Dream Fragment, Touchstone, Atlanteans, and Study of Prometheans.

Many of these works feature numbered editions—such as Rhapsody (edition of 500), New Dawn (edition of 300), Touchstone (edition of 1,800), and Temple (edition of 200)—with retail prices often reaching tens of thousands of dollars. The secondary market also sees significant collector interest and resale listings.

Legacy & Significance

Michael Wilkinson stands out as the preeminent figurative sculptor working in clear acrylic. His art merges timeless, universal themes with contemporary expression, ushering acrylic into mainstream fine art circles and elevating it to a level of acceptance traditionally afforded to bronze.

By sculpting "light"—both literally and metaphorically—Wilkinson creates pieces that float between solidity and transparency, inviting contemplation on beauty, humanity, and spirit. His innovative use of medium and form, combined with classical depth, secures his place as a significant and influential sculptor of the modern era.