About | Ama Menec Sculpture | artistic inspirations

Life sized Nile Goddess on display at Delamore Gardens

Close up view of the head of a female Red Kite in patinated foundry bronze by west country sculptor Ama Menec

I am a British based wildlife, feminist & historical sculptor mostly known these days for my bronzes.

As an artist and naturalist I'm deeply concerned about the war on the wild we are experiencing here in the UK. My animal sculptures focus primarily on threatened British species such as the badger and our massively hunted foxes, but I also celebrate our many successful re-introductions such as the Red Kites and the naturally self-recovered wild Buzzards. I am a passionate supporter of re-wildling and look forward to the day when we can all live in thriving and diverse ecosystems. If you are working on reintroductions such as the Lynx, please do get in touch! I'm working on several wildlife projects and would be delighted to tie in with a reintroduction scheme.

I try to express not just the beauty of each species I sculpt, but also to demonstrate something unique about that animal which sets it apart from other species. This can lead to some unusual poses, often drawing the eye to things rarely seen or never noticed.

My sculptures are stylistically inspired by etchings, woodblock prints, early 20th century illustration and Art Deco stone carving. My earliest influences as a teenager were the Natural History, Archaeology and Anthropology museums of Cambridge. I work from life and from photographs, many kindly donated by friends who look out for or rescue local wildlife.

My figurative sculptures reflect a 35 year fascination with our earliest pre-history and of later Archaic Greek stone sculpture and also my time teaching Lesbian Herstory which included Regency legend Anne Lister.

I am influenced by early 20th century stone carving, particularly Art Deco, the qualities of line and use of negative spaces, but coupled with the colour only really possible with patinated foundry bronze.