This sculpture series was inspired  from a profound moment during a visit to the coast of Carmel, California, a place deeply tied to my childhood and my father’s favorite place. During this trip, I encountered a strikingly beautiful sight: a solitary, dead tree standing resiliently on a rock at the ocean’s edge. Despite the relentless rains and fierce winds, this weathered tree remained upright, a testament to nature’s endurance.

Captivated by the sight, I took a photograph of this magnificent tree and others like it, each revealing a unique beauty and strength. The image of this first tree resonated with me on a personal level, mirroring the complexities of my own life. Just as the tree stands firm against the elements, we too face the storms of our lives and strive to persevere. Hence the first work I entitled "still standing".

In this series, I explore the structure oF various trees as a metaphor for the human condition. Their twisted branches, gnarled forms, and broken limbs echo the intricacies of our own lives—the struggles, resilience, and eventual grace that come from enduring through adversity. The tree’s stark, skeletal form is rendered with a strange elegance, mirroring our own journey through challenges and triumphs.

By abstractly  translating the lifeless trees resilient forms into sculpture, I wanted to capture a sense of the profound beauty in enduring hardship and finding strength in vulnerability. Each piece in this series reflects the quiet dignity of survival and the delicate balance between fragility and fortitude.

​P. Kloczkowski Luberda