How dancer-turned-writer Skye Ferrante came to be @ManofWire.

INTO THE ARTIST'S DEN

I'm speaking with Skye Ferrante today, a NYC-based sculptor known for his continuous wire portraits of burlesque dancers, done (by him) freehand and (them) fully nude. Each sculpture is made from a single piece wrapped over itself to create dimension, cut only once it's done and signed with a metal flourish at the end. We talked about his professional background in dance, writing, and sculpture, and how he's transitioned from street art to gallery work. Most recently, Ferrante flew to California to sculpt a prancing horse (for a luxury auto brand that's spelled quite like his name) and his list of high-profile clients is only growing. The increased stability allows him to spend time writing again, mainly about the women behind his art.

ON THE WIRE

Ferrante grew up in a creative family, but credits his dance background as an essential part of his work. “I’ve moved through many different art forms,” he said, “I started as a ballet dancer, and ballet has informed everything I do with a sense of movement.” Even static artwork can move, if the viewer’s gaze is directed from one point to another. “I’m aware that when I pose a model... the viewer will look straight into the eyes of the model no matter what the pose is, no matter what they’re doing,” Ferrante explained, "The viewer’s eye… will follow based on the choices that I make on the pose or the extremities. The eye might move to a sharp elbow, or a nipple, or end on a foot.”

In the early days, Ferrante used wire to avoid small talk in social situations. “I started sculpting at parties; it was always uncomfortable talking to people so I pulled out my spool of wire and started playing in the corner.” This shy habit backfired when curious onlookers would gather to watch, but their interest just proved there was a market for his work.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

As a self-taught artist, Ferrante believes experience is the best teacher. “I’ve paid my dues on the streets of New York,” he said, “I’ve put in my Gladwellian 10,000 hours on the streets...” He worked as a professional writer for many years, but started selling wire portraits in 2001, and says his portraits have greatly improved in speed and accuracy over time. So how long does an average sculpture take now? "Two hours, plus twenty years,” he quips.

The past five years have been good to Ferrante. As commissions became more frequent and lucrative, he began to work at a slower pace and write about each portrait sitting. This shifted his focus back to writing. "Now, I find the writing profiles and the portraits in wire have combined to become the full frame. I now choose models as a writer, not as a sculptor. The sculptures are secondary to the story."

"I’ve written quite a lot of material, more than a book’s worth," Ferrante continued, "You can call it a memoir, but they do connect to the portraits that I’ve done. I post shorter portrait stories on my Instagram, but I think that’s just as a means to let the public know that I’m a writer and a sculptor, and that they go together. Words and wire."

Photos and text by Julie Tracy.

Follow Skye Ferrante's twists and turns on Instagram as @ManOfWire. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.