John Buck

Artist Biography

John Buck is both a sculptor and a printmaker. Since beginning his collaboration with Master Printer Bud Shark in 1983, Buck has explored the expressive possibilities of woodblock in over forty different prints.

The artist’s method of working is unique: Multiple sections skillfully cut on the band saw are fitted together with puzzle-like precision to create the woodblock. Once assembled, Buck incises the woodblock with a number of tools to achieve a shallow relief. It is necessary to carefully print layers by hand both because of the intricate detail and scale of the work.

A large graphic figure in the foreground surrounded by a field of smaller elements is a common visual scheme in the artist’s prints. Taken from the daily news, his own sculpture, and nature, John Buck’s imagery captivates the viewer with its graphic boldness and, upon closer inspection, serves as a springboard for conversations about the world and our place within it.

Selected Collections: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA

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