Exhibition by St. Louis artist Thomas Sleet of assemblages made from recycled and reclaimed materials, exploring the relationship between natural and built forms.
Thomas Sleet is showing Down River: Prayer is Verb at Bruno David Gallery, 7513 Forsyth Boulevard, from September 4 through October 31. Sleet is a St. Louis artist, and this is a local show in the city where he lives and works.
His practice is a rigorous look at the structural dynamics of repeating forms and the relationship between internal and external spaces. He draws from natural formations—earth, rock, streams, and rivers—to bridge the gap between the natural world and the built environment. The resulting assemblages act as vessels, shells, edifices, and crucibles, echoing arks, altars, temples, and portals.
What makes the work stand out is what it's made of. Sleet works primarily with recycled and reclaimed materials: cement, wood, ground red brick, carpet, charred elements, and mirror. He chooses these for the deep histories and 'spirits' he finds in reclaimed objects, which he transforms through various processes into new structures, geometries, and functions. The materials aren't just a means to an end; they're part of the story.
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Sleet studied at the Columbus College of Art and Design and at Washington University in St. Louis' Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, where he earned his B.F.A. The gallery is publishing a comprehensive catalogue of his work alongside the show, which includes an in-depth exhibition history and bibliography. If you're interested in hearing from the artist himself, there's a talk on Saturday, October 10, at 4 PM. Otherwise, you have until October 31 to catch the exhibition at 7513 Forsyth Boulevard.
