dan lam's drippy sculptures ooze a curvaceous anatomy of spikey neon matter

dan lam’s drippy sculptures ooze a curvaceous anatomy of spikey neon matter
all images courtesy of dan lam

artist dan lam has formed a series of vibrant, free-standing ‘drippy sculptures’ that resemble exotic organic matter seemingly sourced from another planet. placed on shelves or mounted on walls, the neon-hued artworks form elongated, stretched shapes that ooze off the edges of these surfaces. the sculptural blobs are covered in skin of hard spikes — gradating in color and size — that wrap around the curvaceous anatomy of each object.

from her studio in dallas, lam begins by sculpting polyurethane foam on top of a metal framework. these first compositions are informed by motifs and geometries found throughout the human body, flesh, foods and nature. while lam begins with a loose idea of the sculpture’s physical structure, the unpredictable nature of the foam generates unexpected outcomes guided by gravity, causing the material to form drippy deposits as it settles. the artist then adds many layers of acrylic paint and occasionally resin, depending on the desired finish — matte or gloss.

‘thigh gap’

while these seductive objects are just begging to be touched, held, and closely examined, their uneasy spikes form a dual sensation that both invites and repels viewers at the same time. see the ‘drippy sculptures’ below, and documentation detailing the making-of ‘thigh gap’ in the gallery at the bottom of the page.

‘pretty but awkward’