JAMES Shooop
James Shoop has been a professional sculptor since 1983. He first started sculpting at his family's foundry, Shoop’s American Bronze Casting. Here he apprenticed under his father and learned many aspects of sculpting and production.
In 1993 James moved to New York City to study classical sculpting. He studied at The Art Students League, The National Academy of Design and The New York Academy of Art. During this period he concentrated on the study of the figure, learning everything he could about anatomy, form, composition and technique. While in New York, he began his commercial business Shoop Sculptural Design.
Today Shoop Sculptural Design, Inc. is a premium studio specializing in 3-D sculpting, mold making, casting in bronze, resins, hydra stone and aluminum, paint masters, clothing/costume construction and pattern making.
Currently James teaches at The Atelier in Minneapolis. Classes consist of sculpting from life and Ecorche which he teaches anatomy where students sculpt the skeleton and then all the muscles on top. Since the beginning of James career he has always been working on figurative fine art sculpture, creating a body of work that expresses his passions and interpretation of the human form.
His sculptures have been selected for Spectrum Fantastic Art #13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. The Art Renewal Center Salon Show 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (winning Staff Awards in 2009, 2010 and 2nd place in sculpture 2013). In the summer of 2012 he was awarded Best In Show at the Wayzata Minnesota Art Fair. In 2012 was selected to be a part of the Minnesota State Fair Art Show. In 2011 James sculpture of Warm Azure was selected to be a part of The National Sculpture Society 78th annual exhibition at Brookgreen Gardens.
