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THE GRIT SHOP

an artistic fabrication studio by 

Brian Somerville

    Lauren Snelling - Artistic Director, YoungArts

     "Brian Somerville is a creator, a problem-solver and the brilliant imagination behind a menagerie of fantastical beasts. He is also one of the kindest and most thoughtful artists with whom to collaborate. Brian makes ideas come to life! He thinks through every element from the first sketch to the final installation." 

    ORIGINAL Sculpture

    BARNSTORMER

    H-76" x W-85" x D-35"

    ceramic, metal, wood, foam

    status: available

    The Wrath

    H-47" x W-45" x D-17"

    foam, fiberglass, wood

    status: sold

    Shell-Shocked

    H-36" x W-13" x D-25"

    ceramic, metal, wood, foam

    status: sold

    Tim Ozgener - Co-founder & President, OZ Arts Nashville

      “Brian Somerville is a brilliant and imaginative artist. He is a meticulous artist with a keen attention to detail and quality. 

    We are proud to say that he helped us make OZ Arts Nashville the destination that it is today with his wonderful sculptures in our outdoor spaces.”

    Commissions

    Donelson Gateway Arch

    H-8'6" x W-6' x D-6'

    foam, fiberglass, epoxy, concrete

    Location: Donelson, TN

    Fly Away, Fly Away, Fly Away...Gone

    H-10' x W-14' x D-3'6"

    foam, metal

    Displayed at Nashville International Airport in 2017

    Photo by: Elevated Lens

    Where They Dwell

    H-15' x W-10' x D-10'

    concrete, metal

    Location: Jeffersonville, IN 

    (decommissioned)

    Herb Williams - Sculptor, Painter, Curator

      "Brian Somerville is an outstanding sculptor and artist. I've collaborated with him on several of my public artworks over the past nine years and he's exceeded my expectations every time."

    Fabrications

    We Are Wild

    H-15' x W-15' x D-20'

    wood, acrylic, foam, metal, epoxy

    horns and nose created for 

    Tuck-Hinton Architecture and Design

    Displayed at Cheekwood Gardens

    Flower Monster

    H-12' x W-10' x D-10'

    wood, foam, plastic, acrylic, LED lights

    Created for OtherWorld Entertainment

    Ultra Lounge Bar

    H-5' x W-8'6" x D-3'

    foam, fiberglass, epoxy, acrylic, LED lights

    Created for OZ Arts Nashville

    Sheri Oneal - Writer/Photographer/Artist, Nashville

     Brian Somerville, owner of “The Grit Shop,” is one of these unique, modern-day conceptual artists. He possesses an ingenuity and craftsmanship that is capable of using styrofoam, wood, and concrete to transform creative ideas of any scale into reality."  

    Concrete Rockwork

    Concrete Sculpting Sample

    Rockwork foundation

    Location: Private Residence - Nashville, TN

    Concrete Rockwork Samples

    Duncan Ragsdale - Designer, Duncan Ragsdale Creative

    “Brian Somerville is an amazing talent. He has sculpted sets and characters for my production designs over the years.  He can make anything better!”

    Entertainment

    Mothra Set and Props

    H-16' x W-25' x D-6'

    wood, foam, paper, cardboard

    Art Director: Duncan Ragsdale

    Client: Rifftrax Live

    CMT 25 Championship Belt

    Presented to Carrie Underwood in 2022

    H-24" x W-36" x D-3"

    wood, leather, fringe, denim, faux rhinestones, epoxy

    Art Director: Duncan Ragsdale

    Client: CMT

    Dog Props

    H-4' x W-3' x D-2'

    foam, metal

    Art Director: Duncan Ragsdale

    Client: Rifftrax

    Cory Basil - Painter, Filmmaker, Author, Gallerist

    "Heart, character and work ethic. These are traits that must be solid if I'm going to create with another artist. Brian embodies them all. Complete with a skillset and imagination to rival the best working today."

    Collaborations

    Giant Fishboy

    H-12' x W-15' x D-12'

    foam, fiberglass, epoxy, metal

    Collaboration with Cory Basil

    Location: Tennessee First Baseball Stadium

    TANK CHICKEN

    H-14' x W-9' x D-6'

    wood, metal, foam, LED lights

    Collaboration with TANK 615 Collective

    Laughing Bacchus

    H-12' x W-16' x D-16'

    foam, fiberglass, epoxy, metal

    Collaboration with Cano Ozgener

    Location: OZ Arts Nashville

    Mary Grissim - Curator, Nashville International Airport

      “Brian Somerville is one of the most original creatives working in Nashville today. The boundaries of his imagination are limitless because of his exceptional ability to craft those ideas into three dimensional objects. His work is surprising, thought provoking and entertaining.”

    Interactive

    Nest Hideout

    H-5' x W-7' x D-8'

    wood, concrete

    Location: Fernvale, TN

    Mud Kitchen Playhouse

    H-12' x W-30' x D-15' 

    wood, concrete, acrylic

    Location: Louisville, KY

    Water Tower

    H-4' x W-2" x D-2'

    metal, wood, fiberglass

    Location: Louisville, KY

    Randy L. Purcell - Visual Artist, Nashville

      “There are few artists who have the sense of worldbuilding of Brian Somerville. The color, texture, and narrative elements of his work are like a giant, visible signature. I love the seamless way that he composes dynamic 3D objects.” 

    Copyright © 2018 The Grit Shop   

    All Rights Reserved.

    • Sculpture
    • CLAYBEASTS
    • Entertainment
    • Composites
    • Concrete
    • Wood
    • Metal
    • 2D
    • Molds
    • Maquettes
    • Ceramics
    • Interactive
    • Epiclog Island
    • Donelson Gateway Arch
    • Where They Dwell
    • OTHERWORLD
    • We Are Wild
    • TANK 615
    • Network
    • Germantown
    • classroom
    • The Bears Are Coming

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