Max Neufeldt, Kitchen Liberty (1985)
A playful take on an American icon, this folk art piece by Max Neufeld reimagines the solemn Statue of Liberty as a domestic guardian of the kitchen. Crafted in an ivory-toned material, the sculpture stands as a unique and charming kitchen utensil holder.
The artist replaces Lady Liberty’s iconic torch with a whisk and the traditional tablet of law with two simple, heartfelt cutouts. A whimsical, integrated bin provides a functional space for everyday cooking utensils. This piece captures a sense of warmth and domesticity, blending patriotic symbolism with everyday life in a delightful and unexpected way.
Details
Dimensions: 45.50" high x 21" wide x 4" deep
Condition: Very good original vintage condition
Year: 1985
About the Artist
Born in Sylvia, Kansas, and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Max Neufeldt studied at Ohio Wesleyan University and earned his Master of Fine Arts at Pratt Institute. His work reflects a small-town sensibility fused with the conceptual rigor of fine art training.
Neufeldt gained recognition in Venice and Santa Barbara, California, for transforming everyday items—scissors, cheese graters, keys, and tools—into evocative sculptural forms. His pieces were once described as “quiet relics of a pre-digital age,” seamlessly blending industrial metal with softer materials like wood to create artworks that are both grounded and poetic.
Provenance
A rare opportunity to own an original work by a widely exhibited artist whose sculptures appeared in venues like the Pasadena Art Museum and were featured in numerous California design publications. All pieces are from the Max Neufeld Estate, and each work comes with a letter of authenticity from the estate.