Craig Bergsgaard, Co-Founder
“I always needed to make things, even before I understood what it meant to create art.”
Craig was an artist, long before he ever described himself that way. “I always needed to make things, even before I understood what it meant to create art,” the sculptor says. Decades ago, Craig showed a carousel horse he had carved to a bowling league buddy who happened to be a high school art teacher. Craig’s friend guided the emerging artist toward sculpture, and Craig has been exploring the medium ever since.
The challenging nature of working in three dimensions is a perfect fit for the artist’s can-do mindset. “There is no ceiling on how much you can explore or create,” says Craig, “so sculpting keeps me enthused every day. I don’t feel like making sculpture is work; it is more like a privilege.”
The artist insists on historical accuracy in all of his compositions. “All the accoutrements need to be correct,” Craig explains. “But I’m not setting out to make a portrait. Rather, I’m creating a story and may take some license to express it – but the subtleties will still be right.” To accomplish this, Craig does extensive research on his subjects. “People who collect my work are often intrigued by the details and insist on accuracy, so I make sure not to let them down,” he says. “This is a slice of history they are incorporating into their lives.”
A native of Minnesota, today Craig and his wife JoAnn make their home near the artist enclave of Loveland, Colorado. He also maintains a studio presence in Scottsdale from January through March during the Arizona Fine Art Expo.
You may read more about Craig on his website, Craig Bergsgaard Studios.