Flat to Form: Intro to Sculpture (Mornings)

Bring your ideas into the world of three-dimensional art.

Explore the exciting moment when an idea takes shape, occupies space, and becomes a physical object. Intro to Sculpture invites artists and art enthusiasts of all levels to experiment with form, space, materials, and process while discovering the possibilities of sculptural expression.

Throughout the course, we’ll look at sculpture across history and into contemporary practice, exploring figurative, structural, organic, and environmental forms, as well as assemblage, mixed media, installation, public art, monumental sculpture, and earthworks. Students will experiment with both traditional and unconventional materials while developing a personal approach to making three-dimensional work.

Over four hands-on weeks, you will move from flat surfaces to sculptural forms, learning how materials can be folded, rolled, cut, assembled, transformed, and reimagined. You’ll create reliefs, freestanding forms, sculptural objects, and mixed-media assemblages, building a small body of personal work along the way.

Class Breakdown: 

• Week 1 — From Flat to Form: Discover how simple paper can be transformed into three-dimensional objects through folding, rolling, crumpling, slotting, and other techniques.
• Week 2 — Creating Form: Work with cardboard and heavier papers to create wall reliefs, sculptural objects, and freestanding forms while learning essential tools and construction techniques.
• Week 3 — Object & Form: Reinterpret existing three-dimensional objects—figurative, organic, or structural—using materials of your choice and exploring how observation can become sculpture.
• Week 4 — Assemblage & Mixed Media: Combine different materials and found elements into cohesive sculptural works, considering texture, color, contrast, connection, and meaning.

Each class includes time to share and discuss artwork, encouraging thoughtful conversation about materials, techniques, construction, artistic ideas, and individual creative vision. Visits to museums, galleries, and local public art are also encouraged as opportunities to experience sculpture beyond the studio.

No previous sculpture experience is required—just curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to make, experiment, and see space in a new way.

By the end of the course, each student will have experimented with a range of sculptural processes and materials and created a small body of original three-dimensional work.

About the instructor

Lori Nozick has an MFA from Pratt Institute in Visual Arts, and a BFA from (what was) Philadelphia College of Art in Fine Arts and Certification in Art Therapy.    

The artist has exhibited her work in galleries and museums, awarded permanent public art commissions, and received international, national, state, and foundation grants and fellowships.

Her interactive large-scale sculptures, both permanent and temporary, invite the public into the piece itself, to experience the artwork in a personal way. Her studio practice involves architectural sculpture and installation, drawing, collage, and photography.

Ms. Nozick has been a university professor in NY, NJ, Miami, CA, and the Italy Program of American University, Wash. DC, in Corciano, Italy.  She has taught 2D and 3D Design, Beginning and Advanced Sculpture, Mixed Media, Drawing, and Art Appreciation.