Essence: The Horses of Deborah Butterfield

American sculptor Deborah Butterfield is among the most respected and acclaimed artists of her generation. Her horses, like the beloved and iconic Cabin Creek (1999), in Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s permanent collection, have been the focus of great interest as much for their creative use of materials as for their craftsmanship. The horse has been the singular focus of her prolific career since the mid 1970s—most frequently focusing on the mare instead of the stallions and warhorses most commonly encountered in the history of art. This exhibition features installations of large-scale and pedestal-size horses. Each unique example is composed of a wide variety of materials from found and reclaimed metals, to branches and earth.