Shear Sight (Raven)

Sculpture details

Artist: Alan Williams
Year: 2025
Commission / type: Private commission
Dimensions: H 17 × W 11 × D 41 cm
Display / installation: Freestanding and balanced on its feet
Current location / status: Private collection, Alaska
Price / value: £3,500

Shear Sight (Raven) metal sculpture by Alan Williams

About the work

Shear Sight reflects Alan’s longstanding fascination with corvids: quick, intelligent and observant birds whose movements can seem ready-made for sculpture. The title refers to the garden shears used in the wings and tail, combined with the raven’s watchful pose.

The 2025 private commission was designed around curiosity: the stance of the legs, angle of the body and turned head create a frozen moment within an implied movement. Alan has made other crows and ravens, but each is a one-off rather than part of a formal collection.

Materials and construction

The head combines spoons, circular saw blades, bicycle gears and cutlery. The body and wings use motorbike sprockets and brake discs, garden shears, forged bearing casings, retired tools and circular saw blades. The legs and feet are forged rebar.