New Works
works by David David Figueroa

Opening Thursday, June17th, 2021.

“Your life, the places you will be, and the things you will experience are unpredictable. As time 
goes by we are constantly changing physically, emotionally and psychologically. It is the journey 
through life that define us and our future. Logically or illogically, in a conscious or unconscious 
way, we all act or react to our previous experiences. It is with this in mind that I produce my 
sculptures which mirror my thoughts, my feelings; as a human being, as a father, as a husband, as 
an artist. As a sculptor, I enjoy working with many different materials from wood, steel, bronze, 
stone and found objects. I tend to gravitate towards a mixture of stone and steel; or wood and 
steel, with the addition of patinas or paint to accentuate certain details of the piece of art.”
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Figueroa graduated Magna Cum Laude from the School of Fine Arts 
in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a BA in Fine Arts, with a major in Sculpture. Figueroa has exhibited 
his work in one of the most prominent Art Museums of the Caribbean, the Ponce Art Museum.
 

In 2000, due to medical needs of his oldest son he decided to move to Florida; leaving behind 
everything he had accomplished in the arts world, along with all his tools and art. In Florida, he 
rebuilt his tool inventory, a new body of work, and learned the full process of Bronze casting and 
began his own series of Bronze sculptures which he later showed at prominent museums. Since 
then he has participated in several juried collectives, and Art Festivals around the United 
States. He has enjoyed of great acceptance by the public and has been able to place some of his 
sculptures in Museums and Corporate Offices such as the Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL., 
Museum of Florida Art, Deland, Fl., College of Central Florida, Ocala, FL. Several other sculptures 
have gone to private collectors all around the United States, South America, Puerto Rico and 
Curacao.

Out of Shadow
works by Harry Messersmith

“I sculpt images that fuse geometric form with human form. The work communicates a struggle for 
the balance of power between the evolution of human spirituality and the advance of technology. The 
human figure represents spirit, soul, love of life, and the will to survive.” - Harry Messersmith
Harry Messersmith maintains a full-service bronze foundry and sculpture atelier in New Smyrna 
Beach, FL. “My work addresses the evolution of technology and its positive and negative effects 
upon the human condition. I strive to express within figurative sculpture a dynamic sense of balance 
that I believe must exist between science, and spiritual enlightenment in order for civilization to 
progress with dignity.” The artist is also inspired and intrigued by the natural and living things within 
it.

Messersmith is a grant recipient of the Andy Warhol Foundation which enabled him to study with Gio 
Pomodoro at the Atlantic Center for the Arts. He later traveled to Milan, Italy, to promote “The 
Bronze Exhibit,” a group exhibition that included three of his figurative bronze sculptures.

Messersmith has a background as an arts administrator, educator, curator and has judged over 100 
arts festivals in Florida and within the US. He served as executive director of the DeLand Museum of 
Art from 1989 to 1995 and director of The Lighthouse Gallery and School of Art in Tequesta, Fla., 
from 1995 to 1996. Previously, he was an artist-in-education for the Volusia County Public 
Schools. He has also taught fine art and sculpture at Daytona State College, Stetson University, 
Crealde School of Art, Harris House, Atlantic Center for the Arts, and the University of Central 
Florida. Messersmith earned his master’s degree in fine art and sculpture from the University of 
Florida under J. G. Naylor in 1983, and his bachelor’s degree from Stetson University under his 
father, Fred L. Messersmith, and Dan Gunderson in 1981.

CONTACT the gallery with enquiries!

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Mills Gallery is currently closed due to COVID-19.

Visit the current exhibition page to view works available for sale. 

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