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World class artist, sculptor, rodeo clown and writer and a popular character in Santa Fe folklore; David Copher and his art don't just defy category, every now and they create a new one!
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The depth and diversity of David’s art are evident everywhere in his working Santa Fe studio. His personal collection of bronzes, large oils, sketch books, marble sculptures and jewelry date from his earliest work to the most recent, and his desk is stacked with magazine and newspaper articles highlighting his work, and his larger than life back story.
Biography
David Copher was born in Nuremberg, Germany in 1954 while his father was serving in the Army; he and his family settled in Copperas Cove, Texas where Copher spent most of his childhood and young adult life.
During Copher’s formative years, teachers and family were constantly surprised and impressed by his creativity, talent and natural artistic skills. He spent his summers earning money, but unlike other kids, Copher spent his money on art supplies — purchasing canvas’s, paints, pens and sketch pads.
By high school, his artistic and athletic talents blossomed. Copher began winning numerous awards for his art at every level. By senior year, Copher had placed Best of Division and Best of Show multiple times. Considered one of the area’s finest young artists — and athletes - Copher served as captain of the rodeo squad and football team as well.
He would eventually find a foundry fond of finding new talent, and sign on as an intern. The work was grueling, but rewarding. He honed his skills creating molds, casting, and completing sculptures in bronze that were complex, and beautiful.
Copher continued his athletic career participating as a rodeo bull rider and clown bullfighter to earn extra money. Today, Copher has performed around the nation as a PRCA rodeo clown. Copher’s love of art never wavered. In his free time, often late at night, he created stunning works in pen & ink, etchings, water colors, oils, and designed his first bronze sculptures.
1980 gave Copher the freedom to do what he loved most: his art. He made his debut, in a one man show in Coconut Grove, Florida. The show featured his western themed bronzes and oils, and was a great success; it spurred Copher to expand his vision, scope and life experience for his art. He took to the road — spending a year in San Francisco painting and sculpting, followed by two years in Miami, Florida where he added photography to his expansive list of talents.
After a trip to the mountains of southern Mexico Copher was inspired by the brilliance of the Mayan culture. He designed and produced his acclaimed “Mayan Kings” bronze sculpture series. In 1985, Copher was awarded a grant by Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) to illustrate a major anthropological textbook — featuring tools, vessels and implements used by the ancient Mayans.
Throughout his life, Copher’s love and passion for rodeo never waned. A bull rider in his younger days, in the mid 80’s he would become a rodeo clown bull fighter, perhaps the most dangerous and athletic position in the rodeo program. Instantly a crowd favorite at major rodeo’s throughout the Southwest his innovative comedy routines, combined with his fearless talent for protecting the cowboys, made Copher one the most sought after clowns on the professional circuit.
In 2001 his love of art and rodeo came together in perfect harmony. The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Hall of Fame Museum located in Colorado Springs, Colorado honored Copher with a One Man Show featuring his famous “Rodeo Clown” oil’s and a number of his western themed sculpture works. He was also one of the featured artists in a show at the Museum of The Cowboy in Sheridan, Wyoming. Named one of the top western artists in the country Copher was featured by Western Horseman magazine. Among the highlights of his career, Copher painted portraits of the Clown Bullfighter inductees for the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.
In 1989 Copher moved to Santa Fe New Mexico and has been there for twenty-nine years. Copher’s good friend, international award winning Santa Fe artist, gallery owner and mentor Frank Howell (1937-1997), encouraged him to move to Santa Fe. The move spurred his creativity once again. Copher started experimenting in a variety of new media and styles while he carved stone with his friend and mentor internationally renowned stone and bronze sculptor - Doug Hyde. The El Tellar Gallery, own by world famous Amado Pena, was the first gallery in downtown Austin, Texas to feature Copher’s art.
The 1990s were breakout years for Copher in a variety of mediums. Copher designed and produced the first Kokopelli sculptures in Santa Fe. The Flickenger Center for the Performing Arts in Alamogordo, New Mexico houses the seven foot bronze Kokopelli for their lobby. Copher began the “Wind Spirit” series; a collection of one of a kind anthropomorphic bronze sculptures on a large scale. Copher began his next works a series of one of a kind bronze and polished stone sculptures called the “Ancient Ones”. This collection of works inspired Copher’s jewelry creations called “The Ancient Ladies”. Simultaneously Copher was painting an oil on canvas series called “Glyph”. These paintings still hang in the Santa Fe Ski Basin located at Ski Santa Fe.
In 1996 Copher received national and international attention for his “Magic Horse” series. These stone, bronze, steel and mixed media sculptures are hugely popular. This is a highly stylized contemporary image of an hi-tailing “magic” running horse. Copher describes it as the long shadow of a running horse.
1997 to date His current work reflects the growth and expansion of Copher as an artist and sculptor. His “Out-of-the-Box” sculpture series are stone reliefs showcasing cowboys on horseback, polo players, and majestic horses. Copher recently introduced the “Stone Arrow” sculpture series, and will be releasing his latest jewelry designs. His new paintings include the “Dimensional Walking” series, “Mother Earth” series, and his “Contemporary Abstracts” and landscape’s which are finding their way into boutique hotels, upscale office buildings and residential collections.
2017 brought Copher honors from the Five Hills Art Guild in his home town of Copperas Cove, Texas, where they featured him at the top guest artist. In 2018 a “Magic Horse” sculpture was added to the permeant collection of the Rollins College Cornell Fine Art’s Museum in Winter Park, Florida.
2018 David added another monument in Santa Fe at the entry to the Center for Contemporary Art and the famed Children's Museum a twelve foot Magic Horse.
2019 David received The Journal north honor for Readers Choice first place Santa Fe Artist.
David Copher currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He maintains a large working studio where some of the most legendary “exhibit opening” parties take place. "The David Copher Gallery" opened in 2014 and is just off the plaza in down town Santa Fe. His gallery features his work's in sculpture, painting, silver and gold jewelry.
Biography
David Copher was born in Nuremberg, Germany in 1954 while his father was serving in the Army; he and his family settled in Copperas Cove, Texas where Copher spent most of his childhood and young adult life.
During Copher’s formative years, teachers and family were constantly surprised and impressed by his creativity, talent and natural artistic skills. He spent his summers earning money, but unlike other kids, Copher spent his money on art supplies — purchasing canvas’s, paints, pens and sketch pads.
By high school, his artistic and athletic talents blossomed. Copher began winning numerous awards for his art at every level. By senior year, Copher had placed Best of Division and Best of Show multiple times. Considered one of the area’s finest young artists — and athletes - Copher served as captain of the rodeo squad and football team as well.
He would eventually find a foundry fond of finding new talent, and sign on as an intern. The work was grueling, but rewarding. He honed his skills creating molds, casting, and completing sculptures in bronze that were complex, and beautiful.
Copher continued his athletic career participating as a rodeo bull rider and clown bullfighter to earn extra money. Today, Copher has performed around the nation as a PRCA rodeo clown. Copher’s love of art never wavered. In his free time, often late at night, he created stunning works in pen & ink, etchings, water colors, oils, and designed his first bronze sculptures.
1980 gave Copher the freedom to do what he loved most: his art. He made his debut, in a one man show in Coconut Grove, Florida. The show featured his western themed bronzes and oils, and was a great success; it spurred Copher to expand his vision, scope and life experience for his art. He took to the road — spending a year in San Francisco painting and sculpting, followed by two years in Miami, Florida where he added photography to his expansive list of talents.
After a trip to the mountains of southern Mexico Copher was inspired by the brilliance of the Mayan culture. He designed and produced his acclaimed “Mayan Kings” bronze sculpture series. In 1985, Copher was awarded a grant by Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) to illustrate a major anthropological textbook — featuring tools, vessels and implements used by the ancient Mayans.
Throughout his life, Copher’s love and passion for rodeo never waned. A bull rider in his younger days, in the mid 80’s he would become a rodeo clown bull fighter, perhaps the most dangerous and athletic position in the rodeo program. Instantly a crowd favorite at major rodeo’s throughout the Southwest his innovative comedy routines, combined with his fearless talent for protecting the cowboys, made Copher one the most sought after clowns on the professional circuit.
In 2001 his love of art and rodeo came together in perfect harmony. The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Hall of Fame Museum located in Colorado Springs, Colorado honored Copher with a One Man Show featuring his famous “Rodeo Clown” oil’s and a number of his western themed sculpture works. He was also one of the featured artists in a show at the Museum of The Cowboy in Sheridan, Wyoming. Named one of the top western artists in the country Copher was featured by Western Horseman magazine. Among the highlights of his career, Copher painted portraits of the Clown Bullfighter inductees for the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.
In 1989 Copher moved to Santa Fe New Mexico and has been there for twenty-nine years. Copher’s good friend, international award winning Santa Fe artist, gallery owner and mentor Frank Howell (1937-1997), encouraged him to move to Santa Fe. The move spurred his creativity once again. Copher started experimenting in a variety of new media and styles while he carved stone with his friend and mentor internationally renowned stone and bronze sculptor - Doug Hyde. The El Tellar Gallery, own by world famous Amado Pena, was the first gallery in downtown Austin, Texas to feature Copher’s art.
The 1990s were breakout years for Copher in a variety of mediums. Copher designed and produced the first Kokopelli sculptures in Santa Fe. The Flickenger Center for the Performing Arts in Alamogordo, New Mexico houses the seven foot bronze Kokopelli for their lobby. Copher began the “Wind Spirit” series; a collection of one of a kind anthropomorphic bronze sculptures on a large scale. Copher began his next works a series of one of a kind bronze and polished stone sculptures called the “Ancient Ones”. This collection of works inspired Copher’s jewelry creations called “The Ancient Ladies”. Simultaneously Copher was painting an oil on canvas series called “Glyph”. These paintings still hang in the Santa Fe Ski Basin located at Ski Santa Fe.
In 1996 Copher received national and international attention for his “Magic Horse” series. These stone, bronze, steel and mixed media sculptures are hugely popular. This is a highly stylized contemporary image of an hi-tailing “magic” running horse. Copher describes it as the long shadow of a running horse.
1997 to date His current work reflects the growth and expansion of Copher as an artist and sculptor. His “Out-of-the-Box” sculpture series are stone reliefs showcasing cowboys on horseback, polo players, and majestic horses. Copher recently introduced the “Stone Arrow” sculpture series, and will be releasing his latest jewelry designs. His new paintings include the “Dimensional Walking” series, “Mother Earth” series, and his “Contemporary Abstracts” and landscape’s which are finding their way into boutique hotels, upscale office buildings and residential collections.
2017 brought Copher honors from the Five Hills Art Guild in his home town of Copperas Cove, Texas, where they featured him at the top guest artist. In 2018 a “Magic Horse” sculpture was added to the permeant collection of the Rollins College Cornell Fine Art’s Museum in Winter Park, Florida.
2018 David added another monument in Santa Fe at the entry to the Center for Contemporary Art and the famed Children's Museum a twelve foot Magic Horse.
2019 David received The Journal north honor for Readers Choice first place Santa Fe Artist.
David Copher currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He maintains a large working studio where some of the most legendary “exhibit opening” parties take place. "The David Copher Gallery" opened in 2014 and is just off the plaza in down town Santa Fe. His gallery features his work's in sculpture, painting, silver and gold jewelry.
