Stanislaw Trzebinski’s sculptural forms are as thought-provoking as they are visually compelling. Merging traditional techniques like lost-wax casting with cutting-edge processes like 3D printing, the Kenyan-born Cape Town-based artist creates pieces that blur the boundaries of conventional sculpture. Simultaneously otherworldly and organic, his new series of floor-based bronze sculptures incorporate hand-blown glass elements that explore the experiential impact of shadow and light.
Through his work, Trzebinski opens a dialogue about humanity’s fragile relationship with the natural world, offering moments of beauty, introspection, and playful engagement. In this interview, we explore how the concept of play informs his fluid, imaginative approach to materials and form, and how his SOLO presentation with Southern Guild at the 2025 Investec Cape Town Art Fair bridges environmental and philosophical themes with accessibility and emotional resonance, striking a delicate balance between tradition and innovation.
Your work often merges organic forms with surreal elements. How does the concept of play influence the fluidity and imaginative qualities in your latest pieces?
The concept of play is deeply embedded in my artistic process. Creating feels like revisiting that sense of discovery and nuance I experienced as a child encountering the world for the first time. In these moments, the barriers we build as adults come down and creativity and imagination can flow freely.
By letting materials and shapes evolve organically rather than adhering to rigid preconceptions and prescriptions, I often achieve unexpected and highly rewarding results. This playful approach allows me to blend fantastical, otherworldly elements with organic forms and textures, crafting sculptures that feel both familiar and dreamlike. Through this process, I aim to invite viewers into a space where the boundaries of imagination fall away, encouraging deeper engagement with the themes and forms I present; forms that are disarming and playful, yet still layered with meaning.
How does the playfulness in your choice of materials and textures for your presentation at SOLO challenge traditional notions of sculpture and invite the viewer to experience it in unexpected ways?
Bronze is traditionally seen as a dense and heavy material, with sculptures often reflecting these qualities through low, grounded forms. Recently, I’ve experimented with making bronze appear weightless and delicate, lifting it into space as though suspended in water. In this body of work, the pieces seem to float effortlessly, defying the material’s conventional associations.
One of the pieces at the booth even invites interaction. Viewers can sit within the sculpture itself, adding a participatory element. The materials and textures I use stem from blending traditional techniques like lost-wax casting and glassblowing with cutting-edge processes like digital sculpting and 3D printing. This fusion of ways of making challenges traditional ideas of sculpture by marrying age-old craftsmanship with contemporary experimentation.
In the 3D digital realm, I can play with scale, materials, colours, and imaginative settings within hours, at no material cost. This freedom allows me to push boundaries and envision possibilities that conventional sculpting couldn’t accommodate. Once I’ve visualised and approved a piece in the digital realm, I return to hands-on craftsmanship to bring the vision to life. The result is a dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation that redefines what sculpture can be.
In what ways does your art allow you to address deeper environmental or philosophical themes in a way that feels accessible and engaging for your audience?
My art bridges pressing environmental and philosophical concerns with emotionally resonant and accessible experiences. By drawing people into the playful nature of the pieces, I hope to lower their defences, thereby creating space for the deeper meanings to land and be contemplated. The works weave narratives that highlight humanity’s fragile and often fractured relationship with the natural world.
This approach, softened with quiet humour and lightness, ensures the art doesn’t overwhelm viewers, but rather draws them in through its beauty and intricacy. My goal is to spark reflection, inviting audiences to connect personally with themes of loss, renewal and coexistence. By balancing serious undertones with accessible, engaging forms, I aim to provoke thought while fostering a deeper emotional connection.
These interviews were conducted with artists participating in the SOLO section of the 2025 Investec Cape Town Art Fair.