David Augenstein

David Augenstein is a Seattle-based sculptor who specializes in carving stone. An engineer by trade, Augenstein’s work is much like his journey into the artistic world, his creations emerging from their natural form and structure to take on new and beautiful life after the transformation process.

Augenstein’s early sculpting entailed hand-selecting stone for his pieces during retreats to the Anza-Borrego Desert, drawing inspiration from the land. The onyx, alabaster, marble and calcite that he works with reveal their inner stories as his carvings progress. He finds joy and excitement in discovering what lies beneath the rough exterior of a stone. As the inner beauty breaks through, Augenstein feels the thrill of being the one to express the unique beauty within; he finds that each stone has a specific story to tell and that the markings inside delineate its unique passage on the earth.

Augenstein’s earliest recollection of artistic inspiration came at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City, where he beheld Michelangelo’s Pieta. He continues to experiment with mediums such as stained glass, welded metal sculpture, wood-working and furniture design.

Art Shows include: