2D/3D SERIES III: Baucis & Philemon

Contemporary abstract sculptor and painter Daniel Anderson was born and raised in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. His interest and passion for art began at an early age and led him to be recruited and to receive a scholarship to attend the College of Visual & Performing Arts at Syracuse University in New York. He continued his formal education in Florence, Italy and was the sole artist selected from New York City to participate in an annual residency program in Melbourne, Australia. Continuing with his early childhood obsession of cubism, futurism, and surrealism, Anderson studied and gained inspiration from the works of Picasso, Boccioni, and Dali. Anderson started to push the boundaries of abstraction as it applies to movement, form, and the compositional elements of matter. His vision is inspired by highly mechanical and mathematical methods, and allows his works to transcend traditional forms. Anderson is driven to use his art to bring light to present issues our world is facing.

His work promotes and urges society to step back and re-examine the direction of the human footprint in the realms of overconsumption, materialism, and the inevitable and unpredictable wave of technology and global environmental concerns that are poised to define our species. His fascination with transitioning in and out of 2D and 3D methods to portray energy, movement and dimension as it relates to color and form allows viewers to experience such elements
resurface in his oils. ‘XO World’, one of the monumental sculptures of the XO WORLD Project and installed at One World Trade in New York City, was unveiled on the 40-year milestone of World Peace Day, September 21, 2021. The sculpture is a visual expression of the powerful message of equality, unity, peace, and love. Inspired by observing children, Anderson chose the universal game of Jacks to create a 12-foot Jack ‘X’ which is reflective of two crossed arms and symbolizes “Love” in sign language. The ‘O’ is represented by the globe. The dramatic juxtaposition of scale in this work was meant to minimize the scale of its viewers, allowing it to connect with their hearts and minds and activate further progress amongst humanity.

Anderson’s visual language and artistic expression not only allows his work to expand across multiple platforms and disciplines, but also provides intriguing, transformational visual experiences in varied scales and mediums.