Bud

British artist Gary Hume is known for his cheerful, candy-colored paintings made with household paint, and more recently, oversized sculptures that recall the flora and fauna around us. In each distinct body of work, Hume abstracts the forms of recognizable objects, creating elegant symbols of his world.

The scale of Hume’s Bud (bronze) is playful, standing as tall as any adult. The plant is both wondrous, the miracle of life that returns after a long Wisconsin winter, and monstrous, in its size. The piece comes off its pedestal and roots directly to the ground, its natural material appearing unnatural in the landscape.

Hume, born 1962, began showing his work nationally and internationally in the late 1980s. Hume is part of the first wave of Young British Artists (YBAs) that includes fellow artists Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, although Hume eschews the shock and awe of his colleagues. Hume prefers to conjure subtle and elegant images full of humor and heart.