Stuffed Loaf, 1969 Sculpture by John Walker (1938 -2018)

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17”W x 18”H x 14 1/4”D


This striking example of late 1960s sculptural pop art reimagines the everyday object through … Read more 17”W x 18”H x 14 1/4”D


This striking example of late 1960s sculptural pop art reimagines the everyday object through a surrealist lens. The sculpture, titled "Stuffed Loaf," presents an abstracted, oversized loaf of bread rendered in rich, warm-toned wood. The form is organic and undulating, swelling at the base to suggest the weight and softness of rising dough, yet executed with the solidity of traditional carving.

The "loaf" is punctuated by a rhythmic pattern of inlaid aluminum circles, creating a playful, polka-dotted visual texture that contrasts the matte grain of the wood with the cool sheen of metal. This industrial material is echoed in the piece's focal point: a large, stylized cleaver slicing deeply into the center of the form. While the knife mimics reality, it is sculpted entirely from aluminum, purposely blurring the line between functional tool and art object.

The piece rests on a minimalist aluminum plinth, grounding the organic upper form in modernity. The surface exhibits a handsome, time-earned patina on the metal elements and minor wear to the wood, adding vintage character that speaks to its history. Signed, titled, and dated by the artist on the underside, this work is a testament to Walker’s career-long exploration of organic motifs fused with industrial sheet metal.

Texas Artist

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