Jud Bergeron is a sculptor based in San Francisco. He works in a variety of styles using many materials but generally gravitates towards more permanent materials, such as bronze and steel. His work has been exhibited throughout museums across America and continues to captivate attention from private collectors across the globe. Jud spoke to Stuart Russell B.E.M in June 2013.
What is creativity to you? Being able to visually convey an idea or emotion in a succinct way that is both relatable and elegant, at least that is what I hope it is. If I’m honest it’s more like being an ant in a Lego shop – Scared, scattered, surrounded by the potential of beauty but ill equipped to build it.
Have you always been creative; was it your childhood desire to become a sculptor? Yes, always creative. According to my mother I screamed for years until someone finally put a pencil in my hand. I come from a long line of artists on my father’s side of the family, most of which were town drunks that worked for the church in New England and were paid next to nothing. My grandfather was an engraver and I have fond memories of his shop, when he passed away I inherited some of his tools, which I still use today. An amazing High School teacher taught me how to carve stone/wood and turned me onto sculpture. She changed my life.