LIFE BEYOND FIRST CLASS
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SCULPTING THE SKY
Charles Sherman’s Exalted Flight, 73 3/8” x 24” x 24” is a masterful sculpture that symbolizes transcendence and balance, blending spiritual symbolism, meticulous craftsmanship, and the timeless beauty of Corten steel.
For sculptor Charles Sherman, the art of creation is both an exploration of balance and a pursuit of transcendence. His latest work, Exalted Flight, seamlessly marries symbolism, material mastery, and spiritual significance into a singular visual experience. “My favorite dreams have always been those of flying,” Sherman shares. “The concept of human flight and the pursuit of higher consciousness are the driving forces behind Exalted Flight.”
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Charles Sherman portrait by Francesco da Vinci
Composed of three welded towers—one tall and thin, one short and wide, and the third harmonizing between the two—the sculpture exudes strength and grace. “The sculpture has a sentry-like, protective presence—feminine in its patinated surface, yet masculine in its vertical form,” Sherman explains. This deliberate duality reflects the artist’s ongoing exploration of opposites: strength and delicacy, grounding and elevation, masculine and feminine energies.
Sherman’s choice of Corten steel reflects his commitment to quality and durability. “The unique advantage of Corten steel is its ability to oxidize, forming a protective layer that eliminates the need for painting, priming, or sealing. This steel is so durable that it’s now used in the construction of bridges.” Yet, the material’s raw, organic patina adds another layer of depth, allowing the sculpture to evolve over time as it interacts with nature—a poetic metaphor for timeless beauty.\
At its core, Exalted Flight is a meditation on transcendence. “It symbolizes the aspiration to rise above earthly limitations and the freedom that comes with flight. Birds have long been a symbol of the Spirit,” says Sherman. The influence of pyramid energy also infuses the sculpture with meaning. “Pyramid energy represents strength, balance, and wisdom, creating a sense of upward movement and evoking the concept of ascension.” The form is grounded yet soaring, drawing a connection between the terrestrial and the celestial.
Charles Sherman portrait by Francesco da Vinci
Charles Sherman portrait by Francesco da Vinci
Sherman also speaks to the sculpture’s practical role in enhancing spaces. “When placed at or near the entrance of a home or building, it symbolizes warmth, hospitality, and friendship. In the office, it is believed to attract wealth and prosperity. The single most important quality of Exalted Flight—and all my other sculptures—is beauty.”
For Sherman, transforming an idea into a tangible sculpture begins with a clay maquette. “I choose water-based clay because it is the most forgiving of all sculptural materials, and it has a unique sensuality, especially when my hands are fully immersed in it,” he shares. From there, he collaborates with skilled craftsmen to weld the steel elements, adjusting and aligning the towers with painstaking precision. “Adjusting the three towers so they are in perfect harmony was a challenge,” he admits. “Having the tower standing perfectly perpendicular to the ground required intuition and eyeballs to get it right.”
Love Letters, polished stainless steel, 18” x 36” x 6”, 2024
Hand of Creation, bronze, 22”, 1997 - 2024
Wings of Wisdom, brushed stainless steel, 48” x 18” x 18”, 2024
This meticulous process reflects Sherman’s reverence for balance—something he believes must be felt from every angle of the sculpture. “A sculptural form should be balanced and beautiful from any point of its 360 degrees.”
Exalted Flight sits firmly within Sherman’s Miracle Tower series, a body of work that pays homage to 20th-century masters like Constantin Brâncuși, Henry Moore, and Pablo Picasso. “I view this work as an integral part of art history,” he explains, yet it is also deeply personal, a reflection of Sherman’s own artistic evolution. “The balance, rhythm, uniqueness, and overall beauty of Exalted Flight make it the most significant piece in the series.”
Sculpture, for Sherman, remains his most authentic form of expression. “Compared to other forms, sculpture has the advantage of being three-dimensional. It thus feels more solid and real than a two-dimensional form. It is a thing in itself rather than just a representation of a thing.”
Ascendant Muse, stainless steel, mosaic, fossils crystals, 121 3/8” x 18” x 18”
Sherman hopes that viewers experience this solidity and presence as a form of inspiration. “I want my viewers to walk away inspired, having temporarily risen above mundane reality,” he says. The sculpture’s bold yet harmonious structure has a universal resonance. “The word I hear most often is ‘WOW!’ I truly appreciate this because it’s the word that best captures the essence of great art.”
Charles Sherman’s art is rooted in a philosophy of promoting the positive, a belief evident throughout his decades-long career. From the elegant curves of his Infinity Ring sculptures to the soaring verticality of Exalted Flight, his work invites viewers to explore balance, beauty, and the unseen energy that connects us all. As Sherman puts it, “The essence of art is that it’s a verb, not a noun. It’s a process.”
With Exalted Flight, Charles Sherman gives us more than a sculpture—he offers a moment of transcendence, a glimpse of the boundless freedom found in human imagination and artistry.