b. 1943 -

Randy Cooper is a renowned contemporary artist famous for his unique shadow sculptures. Through his innovative use of wire mesh, Cooper captures the movement of the human form, casting shadows that interact with the space around them.

About Randy Cooper

• Name: Randy Cooper


• Alias: Randy Cooper


• Profession: Sculptor, b. 1943 –


• Nationality: American

Biography

Randy Cooper discovered his passion for art at nearly 50 years old, after spending time in diverse careers including forestry and as a special education teacher. His journey into art began with courses under sculptors Wren Prather-Stroud and Tuck Langland.

Although Cooper experimented with clay, artificial stone and bronze, it was his discovery of wire mesh as a medium that defined his artistic path. Cooper adopted the technique of creating shadow sculptures - wire mesh forms that project detailed shadows - through a method he developed independently.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles commissioned Cooper to create wire mesh sculptures for three extinct sea mammals from around 15 million years ago: a sea cow, a baby sperm whale, and a relative of today’s sea lion. These sculptures, designed to visually represent what the mammals might have looked like, are still suspended in the museum's exhibit, blending art with education.

Today, Randy Cooper lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife. Their home doubles as his studio.

Related Styles

• Contemporary sculpture


• Shadow art


• Installation art

Highlights and Achievements

• Cooper created wire mesh "skins" for the Age of Mammals exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.


• Cooper exhibited shadow sculptures across the U.S. and internationally.


• The sculptor has received critical acclaim and multiple commissions for public art installations and private collections.

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