Michael Tatom

Events

“The main focus of my work is to translate into bronze the essence of the animal, to capture some movement or instinct and present it in a simple stylized form.” –Michael Tatom

Michael Tatom’s reputation as a master goldsmith was well established before he gained recognition as a sculptor creating unique animal forms in bronze. His sculptures incorporate graceful curves and elegant lines that capture an animal’s shape and the magic of its movement.

Tatom enjoys every aspect in the creation of his sculptures, from observing animals in their habitat and sculpting them in clay, to the final step of finishing the bronze’s surface. His favorite part of the process, however, is selecting and applying the patina, which adds color and texture and creates a dramatic effect on the finished sculpture. Raised in a family of artists and designers, Tatom attend the Gemological Institute of America in California. After working in the San Francisco Bay area for a decade, Michael returned to his roots in New Mexico, having spent his childhood in Los Alamos.

Tatom has been making contemporary jewelry and bronze sculpture for more than twenty-five years. He lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico.