A 23-year-old artist from the Roaring Fork Valley is making waves in the local art scene with his unique sculptural works that celebrate the natural world. Axel Livingston's solo exhibition "Soul Bone" opens Friday at Aspen Collective and will run through November 28, showcasing the young artist's remarkable transformation from painter to accomplished sculptor.
Livingston, who grew up in Basalt and recently graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, has evolved dramatically as an artist during his college years. He left Colorado as a mixed-media painter but returned to the valley as a skilled sculptor who creates everything from large-scale installations incorporating natural elements to intimate works combining glass and metal.
DJ Watkins, owner of Aspen Collective, described Livingston as "nothing short of a phenom" and praised his exceptional talent. "Axel is one of the most talented and versatile artists I've ever come across as a curator focused on young and emerging artists in the valley," Watkins said. "It's been incredible to see Axel's artistic practice evolve from two-dimensional work to these incredible assemblages that combine cast iron, bone and glass that he is showing at the Collective. I think everyone who sees Axel's work will be blown away by his talent and creativity."
The artist's creative journey began during his childhood at Aspen Community School in Woody Creek, where he was immersed in an environment rich with artistic and musical influences. "It was a very art- and music-driven school and I was surrounded by a lot of creativity and all these interesting people and things," Livingston recalled. The school's proximity to the famous Woody Creek Tavern exposed him to the area's "Gonzo" history, inspiring him through the works of Ralph Steadman and Tom Benton posters.
Livingston's fascination with natural treasures developed early in his childhood through exploration and discovery. He vividly remembers finding what he believed to be a dinosaur fossil in a stream in Old Snowmass when he was around 10 or 11 years old. "I was sure it was a dinosaur fossil so we took it to a rock shop and the specialist said he thought it might be," he said. "I was probably 10 or 11 at the time so that could've been a white lie to keep my morale high, but it got me really excited and I continued looking for things everywhere I went."
This childhood passion for collecting natural objects eventually evolved into his artistic philosophy. "I later realized I wanted to make art out of these treasures. I placed them into a piece and it came to life – that is where the idea of the soul bone came from," Livingston explained. His current works feature what he calls "soul bones" – natural elements like bones, driftwood, stones, minerals, and crystals that he believes are spiritually charged and serve as the activating force in his sculptures.
Livingston's artistic development accelerated during middle school when he became interested in drawing, gradually becoming determined to pursue art seriously. He credits Aspen High School art teacher Stephanie Nixon as his biggest inspiration and influence. After graduating from high school in 2020, Livingston took a gap year during which local gallerist Sam Harvey helped him secure affordable studio space at the 517 Artist Collective.
The young artist's career began gaining momentum early, with his first work displayed at The Aspen Hatter when he was just 17 years old. His breakthrough came when Watkins discovered one of Livingston's paintings at a client's home and was so impressed that he organized a show for the 19-year-old artist at his Fat City Gallery. "DJ giving me my own show was great for a lot of reasons, but it really gave me the confidence that I could make it as a working artist and it motivated me to go to art school and learn as much as I could about art and help me evolve as an artist," Livingston said.
Following Nixon's recommendation, Livingston enrolled at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, where his artistic practice underwent a dramatic transformation. The experience exceeded his expectations, particularly due to the affordable living costs that allowed his friends to open galleries and provide exhibition opportunities. Most importantly, the college provided access to extensive facilities and equipment that opened new artistic possibilities.
At CCS, Livingston immersed himself in learning various techniques and mediums, including blacksmithing, woodworking, 3D modeling, ceramics, welding, and blown glass work. This exposure to diverse materials and methods sparked his growing interest in sculpture and three-dimensional art. "Having access to all these facilities was probably the biggest part of me getting into sculpture," he explained. "All of the information was there and I just figured it would be foolish to not meddle around in these different studios. So I got my fingers into everything. That was basically my experience getting into sculpture."
One of the most transformative experiences during his college years was a collaborative project with artists in Zimbabwe, organized by one of his professors who was from that country. Livingston and his fellow students created works responding to shared themes, which were then exhibited alongside pieces by Zimbabwean artists in Harare, the country's capital. "I made a wind chime and a Zimbabwe artist made one – it was this great collaboration and we went to Harare and had a show. It was so cool," Livingston recalled. Watkins believes this international experience had a profound impact on Livingston's artistic development, noting that "his experience in Zimbabwe really opened Axel's eyes to materials, dimensionality and versatility."
The "Soul Bone" exhibition represents Livingston's mature artistic vision, where he hopes to forge new connections between viewers and the natural world. "I think of the objects in my work as amulets or talismans that are spiritually charged," he explained. "So whether it's a cool bone, or a cool piece of driftwood, or a stone, or a mineral or a crystal, these are the soul bones that activate the piece."
Livingston's sculptures are designed as tributes to nature, intended to elevate and celebrate organic treasures while bringing people closer to the natural world. "These sculptures are intended to exalt these organic treasures, and I hope they bring people closer to the natural world," he said. "These pieces are tributes to nature and represent these incredible awe moments that I've had that have made me devotional to the natural world."
The artist hopes his work will inspire viewers to reflect on their relationship with nature and consider humanity's broader environmental impact. "I hope my audience is mindful about their own relationship to nature and humanity's relationship on a broader scale," Livingston said. "I hope they leave relaxed, and just generally peaceful." The exhibition, featuring works such as "Dust to Dust," offers visitors an opportunity to experience this young artist's unique vision of celebrating the natural world through contemporary sculpture.
