Daniel Newman

Daniel Newman was a sculptor who worked in marble, onyx, travertine, and alabaster that he personally selected from quarries in Utah, Colorado, Tennessee, and Italy. The selected stone was as flawless as possible, full of color and dynamic veining. For Daniel, choosing the perfect stone was as important as creating the perfect form, as one complements the other and results in a masterful work of art. “You can’t fight the stone; it’s more like ongoing negotiations,” the sculptor noted. “You’re not a dictator and you’re not really a creator; it’s a partnership with the stone.” He completed each piece with a flawless finish, either perfectly polished or buffed to a satin luster. Although Daniel’s work was based in classical forms, his contemporary style exuded delicacy, lightness, and free flowing movement. Daniel’s sculptures were simply exquisite; each piece was pure sensual delight.

Inspired by the classic Greek and Roman sculptures of horses, Daniel translated their fluid grace in contemporary forms. The sculpture took its shape from the images he found in a
particular stone and he carved his vision without preliminary sketches. It was this spontaneous creative style that gained Daniel acclaim as a poet of stone.

Daniel’s love of sculpture blossomed while earning a degree in Rocket Engineering at the
University of California, Los Angeles. Daniel found it relaxing to study art at night and during weekends. He graduated in 1958, and began his successful engineering career. He spent his time solving problems that many said couldn’t be done, and soon became a leader in his field. Throughout his career, Daniel continued enrolling in university classes to study art, such as life drawing, oil and acrylic painting, modeling in clay and sculpting in stone. Finally, after forty years as an engineer, Daniel decided to follow his heart. He said that as a young man he felt a
responsibility to enter into a trade, but he also felt that he must create art. So he furthered his studies in Pietrasanta, Italy under master sculptors, perfecting his stone carving skills.

The following quote by Michelangelo never left Daniel’s side, “No one should sculpt because they want to. The only reason to sculpt is because you have to.”

Daniel passed away in the autumn of 2023 at the age of 90 and he had continued to sculpt to the very end. Beloved by his friends, family, and collectors of his sculptures, he will be dearly missed. His artistic legacy through Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art will live on in the homes and hearts of many.

Daniel Newman