Emmett Culligan discovered his creativity early in life before studying painting in NYC at the Art Students League and later received his BFA in sculpture from the University of Colorado at Denver. His art ranges in scale from large monumental public art to small wall hung works and can be found in numerous collections and municipalities.
His artistic concerns lie foremost within the manipulation of material and often reference common forms found in everyday life. He considers the act of “making” as primary to the universal human endeavor; finding comfort and purpose in this simple act. Beyond this intent and purpose, content is revealed through a process of “intentional transference” as described by the artist.
"Within my work, an emphasis is placed on the natural inherent qualities of material interacting formally to access human emotion and spirituality. Paramount is the transcendence of the “physical” nature of the world by attempting to imbue material with a greater overall presence or energy. To me, this alchemic transfer of energy is perhaps the most interesting aspect of my artistic endeavor. When present, this energy can be felt yet always remains intangible and mysterious. The viewer is invited to discover this dichotomy within the sculptures’ formal unity and come to realize a deeper resonance." - Emmett Culligan
education
1996 University of Colorado BFA, Sculpture and Drawing Denver, Colorado
1992 Art Students League Studio Painting New York, New York
exhibitions
2022 Out Of Fire Nuart Gallery Santa Fe, New Mexico
2022 Winter Selections Nuart Gallery Santa Fe, New Mexico
2022 Art of the State Arvada, Colorado
2021 William Havu Gallery Denver, Colorado
2020 William Havu Gallery Denver, Colorado
2019 Colorado Abstract +10 A History & A Survey Denver, Colorado
2018 William Havu Gallery Denver, Colorado
2017 William Havu Gallery Denver, Colorado
2016 William Havu Gallery Denver, Colorado
2015 The Fair - Art Palm Springs Palm Springs, California
2014 Unbound: Sculpture In the Field, Arvada, Colorado
2014 William Havu Gallery Denver, Colorado
2013 Catalyst Colorado Sculpture Denver, Colorado
2011 William Havu Gallery Denver, Colorado
2010 David Floria Gallery Aspen, Colorado
2009 Sellars Project Space Santa Fe, New Mexico
2009 Center for Visual Arts Denver, Colorado
2008 Arvada Center Arvada, Colorado
2006 David Floria Gallery Aspen, Colorado
2005 City of Englewood, “Art in Transit” Englewood, Colorado
2005 David Floria Gallery Aspen, Colorado
2004 City of Colorado Springs “Art in the Streets” Colorado Springs, Colorado
2004 Millennium Bridge Denver, Colorado
2004 City of Englewood, “Art in Transit” Englewood, Colorado
2003 Millennium Bridge Denver, Colorado
2003 City of Colorado Springs “Art in the Streets” Colorado Springs, Colorado
2002 Linda Durham Gallery Contemporary Art Galisteo, New Mexico
2002 City of Vail, “Outdoor Sculpture Invitational.” Vail, Colorado
2001 Judish Fine Arts Denver, Colorado
2000 Judish Fine Arts Denver, Colorado
1999 Judish Fine Arts Denver, Colorado
1997 Edge Gallery Denver, Colorado
selected public commissions
2016 Cherry Hills Village Public Art, Sculptures, Rubric #6, Crew #4, #5, #7 Cherry Hills Village, Colorado2015 Goodwill Flagship Store, Sculpture, Rubric #1A Saint Paul, Minnesota
2014 West Colfax BID’s Art in Transit: Prismatic, Bus Shelters Denver, Colorado
2006 Lowenstein Parking Garage LED Screen Denver, Colorado
2006 Eddie Maestas Park Sculptural Trellis Denver, Colorado
2006 TD County Line Rd. Station. Sculpture “The Plow” Denver, Colorado
2005 Louisiana Station Lofts, Water Feature Denver, Colorado
1998 R.E.I. Flagship Store, “Gate Way Arch” Denver, Colorado
selected private collections
Amy Batchelor and Brad Feld, Boulder, Colorado
Aron and Phyllis Katz, New York and Cannes, France
Beth Goldsmith, Aspen, Colorado
Alan and Stephanie Rudy, Boulder, Colorado
Ann and Walter Dobie, Lafayette, Louisiana
Mark Smith, Denver, Colorado Rutt Bridges, Denver, Colorado
Gary and Barbara Sorensen, Snowmass, Colorado
Kirk Drabing, Denver, Colorado
Byron Watson, Denver, Colorado
editorials and publications
Luxe Interiors+Design, "5 Colorado Artists To Watch", by Christine Deorio, March 11th 2022
Westword, "Emilio Lobato and Emmett Culligan get in shape at Havu", by Michael Paglia, March 13th 2014
Colorado Abstract, Fresco Fine Art Publications, 2009.
Rocky Mountain News, ”In the Galleries” by Mary Voelz Chandler, Feb. 12, 2009
Westword, “Colorado Artists Star in Shows at Gallery T and Havu” By Michael Paglia, Feb 4th 2009
Rocky Mountain News, “Building on a larger Concept”, by Mary Voelz Chandler, Feb. 16th 2008
Westword, “More Beautiful Things”, by Michael Paglia, Feb. 26, 2008
Westword, “Full Circle”, by Patricia Calhoun, Nov. 16th, 2006
Westword, Best of Denver 2003 “Best Local Gallery Show- Solo” March 27th, 2003
Westword, “Hard and Fast”,By Michael Paglia, February 14, 2003
Denver Rocky Mountain News, “Culligan shapes vivid images”, Mary Voelz Chandler, February 8th, 2003
Westword, “Three- Way”,By Michael Paglia, February 8th 2001
Westword, “The Shock of the Now” By Michael Paglia, June 10th 1999