Original Signed Lynn Forbes Life-Size Terracotta Bust – 2018
An exceptional original life-size terracotta bust by California sculptor Lynn Forbes, signed and dated 2018.
Executed with remarkable sensitivity and technical skill, this sculpture captures a serene female figure with expressive eyes, softly parted lips, and elegantly modeled facial planes. The artist’s restrained realism allows the natural warmth and texture of the clay to become an integral part of the work.
The bust is hand sculpted in terracotta with visible modeling marks and subtle surface variations that celebrate the artist’s process. The untreated clay surface has developed a beautiful natural patina, giving the piece the timeless appearance of classical portrait sculpture while remaining unmistakably contemporary.
At nearly life-size, the sculpture possesses an impressive gallery presence and displays beautifully on a pedestal, console, or in a professional office or collection.
Artist
Lynn Forbes is a California figurative sculptor and educator who founded the Lynn Forbes School of Sculpture in Carlsbad, California. She previously taught sculpture at the Irvine Fine Arts Center and became known for teaching portrait and figurative sculpture while maintaining an active studio practice. Her work has been exhibited publicly, and her sculpture school attracted students from throughout Southern California before she relocated to Italy.
Medium
* Original hand-sculpted terracotta
* Signed LYNN FORBES
* Dated 2018
* One-of-a-kind original artwork
Measurements
* Height: 17.5 inches
* Width: 13 inches
* Depth: 8.5 inches
Approximately life-size.
Condition
Very good original condition. No visible structural cracks, repairs, or restorations observed. The sculpture retains its original unglazed terracotta surface with expected variations in color, texture, and firing characteristics inherent to hand-built ceramic sculpture.
Please note: At the back of the hairstyle is a small clay projection where the hair is gathered. This feature appears to be original to the artist’s construction rather than the result of damage. The surrounding clay is continuous, with no associated cracking, repair, or fracture lines, suggesting it may represent a firing support point, construction aid, or intentional sculptural element left as part of the original hand-built process. There is a tiny edge fleabite to this projection, but it does not appear that a larger component has broken away.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they are considered part of the description.
Collector’s Notes
Original figurative sculptures of this scale are considerably less common than smaller studies. Combining life-size dimensions, signed authorship, and the work of an established California sculptor and instructor, this piece offers both strong decorative presence and collector appeal. It is equally suited for a sculpture collection, gallery setting, interior design project, or architectural display.