Crab 1939 — New Sculpture by Justin Gaffrey
On the front lawn of his historic 30A gallery, Justin Gaffrey unveils Crab 1939 — a corten steel sculpture that reimagines abstraction, balance, and movement through a distinctly coastal lens.
Rooted in the spirit of modern sculpture, Crab 1939 draws inspiration from Alexander Calder and Louise Bourgeois — artists renowned for their monumental approaches to form, balance, and psychological presence, which continue to influence contemporary sculpture.
“Each leg of the crab is structurally different,” Justin shares. “Every irregular shape in the composition is meant to work together — an integral part of the narrative as nature reveals itself around the form. I love how the light, weather, and mood of the Gulf shift throughout the day, showing how the sculpture continually interacts with these natural phenomena.”
The title 1939 carries layered significance. For Alexander Calder, 1939 marked an important period when his abstract mobiles and suspended sculptural language became internationally recognized, including works such as Lobster Trap and Fish Tail, commissioned for the newly opened Museum of Modern Art in New York. The era represented a breakthrough moment in modern sculpture — when movement, balance, and abstraction became central to sculptural experience.
For Louise Bourgeois, 1939 was equally transformative. After moving to New York in 1938, Bourgeois entered a formative period that would eventually lead to her psychologically charged sculptural practice exploring memory, vulnerability, and organic form.
Justin reflects, “The Calder and Bourgeois sculptures are monuments in my mind. They informed me about sculpture early on, in the same way Vincent van Gogh informed my original approach to painting.”
Fabricated from weather-friendly corten steel, Crab 1939 embraces time as an element of the artwork. Its rusted patina responds to the Gulf air, salt, rain, and shifting sunlight—allowing the piece to continually transform within the coastal landscape. The result is both architectural and organic: a creature-inspired form that balances tension, asymmetry, and motion while remaining firmly grounded.
Installed prominently outside the gallery, Crab 1939 continues Justin Gaffrey’s expanding investigation into sculptural painting, fabricated steel forms, and dimensional storytelling inspired by the ecology and atmosphere of the Gulf Coast. (Sculpture Maquette Study, Crab 1939, above).
Inspired by artists who forged bold paths through modern and contemporary art, Justin’s sculptures aim to create iconic forms that interact meaningfully with architecture, landscape, light, and community.
Building on his evolving language of sculptural painting and fabricated steel forms, these large-scale works are conceived as enduring landmarks—beacon-like compositions that celebrate creative excellence and engage the broader continuum of art history.
Collectors, designers, and public art advocates are invited to contact the gallery for a limited opportunity to commission Justin Gaffrey for future sculptural projects. Or to add your name to the sculpture waitlist, please contact the gallery or visit in person to view available work. (Works in progress by Justin Gaffrey in the studio).
Crab 1939 stands not just as a sculpture, but as a living dialogue with the coastal environment—inviting viewers to experience its shifting presence through light, weather, and time. By bridging tradition and innovation, Justin Gaffrey continues to expand the boundaries of contemporary art on 30A.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery’s grounds and witness for themselves how art, landscape, and imagination converge.
For additional information, please contact:
850-267-2022 | Justin Gaffrey Gallery
850-320-7876 | Maxine Orange ~ call or text