Amanda Markel is a contemporary wildlife sculptor whose work goes far beyond simply representing animals. Her bronze sculptures use wildlife as archetypes for human emotion and experience, exploring themes like resilience, courage, hope, and presence. In this episode, Amanda shares how she turns those ideas into physical works of art and how storytelling has become the core of her creative process.
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Art That Reflects the Human Spirit
Amanda describes her work as storytelling through bronze and negative space. While her sculptures often feature wildlife, the animals themselves represent deeper emotional themes connected to the human experience.
A wolf might symbolize courage.
A piece built around mountain landscapes might represent resilience.
The goal is for people to see something of themselves reflected in the work.
When someone looks at one of her sculptures during a difficult season of life, Amanda hopes it becomes a reminder of their own strength and ability to endure.
From Mud in the Backyard to Professional Sculpture
Amanda’s journey with art started early.
Growing up homeschooled on acreage outside Colorado Springs, she spent much of her childhood outside. Mud pies eventually turned into sculpted animals, and clay quickly became her favorite medium.
By the age of fourteen, she was already selling artwork, using the proceeds to help fundraise for an orphanage in Africa.
Over time she experimented with painting and other art forms, but sculpture remained the medium that stuck.
Later, after moving to Montana, she participated in the Montana Artrepreneurship Program (now called Montana Works), which helps artists learn how to build sustainable businesses around their creative work.
That experience helped bridge the gap between artistic passion and practical business skills.
The Power of Negative Space
One of the defining elements of Amanda’s sculptures is the use of negative space.
Traditional sculpture is typically solid and heavy. Amanda’s work instead incorporates open spaces within the piece itself, allowing viewers to interpret the shapes and meaning in their own way.
Sometimes people see mountains.
Sometimes they see trees or antlers.
Others see entirely different symbols depending on their own life experiences.
This approach creates a unique interaction between the viewer and the sculpture, where each person contributes their own interpretation to the piece.
Sculptures That Tell Stories
Many of Amanda’s sculptures carry deeply symbolic meaning.
One piece called Mountain Heart features a wolf running along an EKG heartbeat line with the Bridger Mountains embedded inside its body.
The symbolism reflects the idea that mountains are formed through pressure and fracture, just as people grow through the difficult experiences in their own lives.
Another piece titled Resilience depicts a wolf walking through a snowstorm made from tree branches. The figure appears to be stepping forward without being able to see where the next step will land, representing the faith required when navigating hardship.
For Amanda, the creation process itself often mirrors the story behind the sculpture.
The piece called Resilience, for example, was one of the most technically difficult works she has ever created, requiring dozens of pieces to be cast and reassembled during the bronze casting process.
The Process Behind a Bronze Sculpture
The journey from idea to finished sculpture is long and complex.
It begins with a concept, often sketched out in clay or on paper. From there, Amanda builds an internal armature made of piping and wire that acts like the skeleton of the piece.
Clay is layered over the structure, first in large blocks and then refined with detailed sculpting.
Once complete, the sculpture is sent to a foundry where the lost-wax casting process begins.
The clay original is molded, recreated in wax, encased in a ceramic shell, and eventually filled with molten bronze. After the bronze cools, the shell is broken away and the sculpture is welded, textured, and patinated to achieve its final finish.
A single sculpture can take months or even years from concept to completion.
Public Art and Larger Installations
Amanda has begun moving toward larger public installations.
One of her most significant recent works is a fourteen-foot bronze sculpture now permanently installed at the Benson Sculpture Garden in Loveland, Colorado.
The installation features three wolves, each balanced on one leg and structurally connected to the others, reflecting the strength found in community. Each wolf contains a different mountain range — the Tetons, Bridger Range, and Glacier — embedded within the design.
For Amanda, public art is especially meaningful because it is accessible to everyone and intended to inspire for generations.
Homeschooling and Creative Independence
Amanda was homeschooled from childhood through high school, an experience she credits with shaping both her creativity and her independence.
The flexibility allowed her to spend more time exploring art and nature while developing strong self-discipline.
It also helped cultivate a mindset of experimentation.
Today, when Amanda approaches a new sculpture, she often doesn’t know exactly how she will accomplish the technical side of the piece.
But she trusts that she’ll figure it out along the way.
That willingness to experiment has become one of the strengths behind her unique artistic voice.
Where to See Amanda’s Work
Her work can also be seen at the following locations:
Galleries:
Old Main Gallery, Bozeman, MT
Gallery Wild, Jackson, WY
Ballard’s Fine Art, Sheridan, WY
Fine Art Shows:
C.M. Russell Museum Live Auction, Great Falls, MT (March 21, 2026)
Out West Art Show, Great Falls, MT (March 19–21, 2026)
Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO (August 7–9, 2026)
Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, Cody, WY (September 14–19, 2026)
Artist Workshops:
Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, MT (April 30–May 4, 2026)
Studio Visits:
Amanda’s favorite way to share her work is in person at her studio. She welcomes people to reach out directly through her website to schedule a visit or to learn more about her work.
Check out directly through her website for studio visits or to learn more about her work.
Website:
https://agmarkel.com
Art has the ability to open conversations and reflect deeper parts of the human experience. Through her wildlife sculptures, Amanda Markel has found a way to combine storytelling, symbolism, and craftsmanship into pieces that invite viewers to see their own stories reflected back.
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