Arcadia Art Consultancy is pleased to present Deborah Butterfield’s Untitled #3640.1, a cast bronze sculpture created in 2010. Butterfield (b. 1949) is acclaimed for her life-size horse sculptures, which uniquely merge natural materials with contemporary sculptural practices. Her works transform organic elements into striking anatomical forms that embody both the grace of the animal and a quiet reflection on the human relationship with nature. In this work, a mare is depicted in a gentle, grazing stance, her head lowered toward the ground, exuding an air of calm strength and introspection.
Butterfield began sculpting horses as a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, in 1973. The inspiration came after witnessing the legendary racehorse Secretariat, its body covered in dried mud post-race, a moment that revealed to her the raw beauty and strength of the horse beyond its idealized, heroic image. While most equestrian art historically celebrated aggressive stallions or warhorses, Butterfield chose instead to focus on mares and foals, symbolizing fertility, serenity, and resilience. She has described her horses as a form of self-portraiture, reflecting her feminist stance and anti-war beliefs by presenting horses as peaceful rather than instruments of conflict.
Over the decades, Butterfield’s practice evolved from early papier-mâché and mud constructions to the use of salvaged materials such as driftwood, sticks, scrap metal, and eventually cast bronze. Her process begins intuitively—she refers to her works as “rectangular paintings standing on four legs”—building up the structure piece by piece until the unique spirit of the horse emerges. Untitled #3640.1 continues this dialogue, capturing the horse’s quiet but commanding presence. The bronze surface retains the texture and organic feel of wood, maintaining a visual connection to the natural world while imbuing the sculpture with permanence and strength. Butterfield often refers to the “forcefield” of the horse, its ability to project an invisible yet palpable energy, which this piece embodies through its poised yet grounded stance.
This work is currently available for viewing on our website and on our Artnet page. Private in-person viewings may also be scheduled by appointment. For inquiries, detailed information, or to arrange a viewing, please contact marie@arcadiaappraisals.com