Thaddeus Mosley, a 98-year-old sculptor based in Pittsburgh, creates monumental wood sculptures that weigh hundreds of pounds and rise high into the air. Working alone in a cavernous studio, he carves cherry and walnut using gouges, comparing his process to judo. Despite his long career spanning seven decades, Mosley remained largely unknown outside Pittsburgh until recently. He has now gained wider recognition following his inclusion in the 2018 Carnegie International, and his work is currently featured in a major exhibition at New York's City Hall Park, where he shows giant bronze versions of his wood creations.
This story matters because it highlights the belated recognition of a significant American sculptor who has been producing work for 70 years but only recently entered the national spotlight. Mosley's rise—from a local legend in Pittsburgh to having his work acquired by the Whitney Museum in 2024 and shown in a prominent public art exhibition in New York—reflects broader shifts in the art world's attention to overlooked artists, particularly older Black artists. His success also underscores the role of institutions like the Carnegie International and galleries like Karma in elevating artists who have long been underappreciated.