CULTURE
Interview with Paul B Lotz
Sculpting Whimsy, Humanity, and Hope in Bronze.
July 4, 2025
Image: Ode to Amelia Earhart by Paul B. Lotz. Images provided by Fascination Street Fine Art
Image: Spirit of Calypso by Paul B. Lotz. Images provided by Fascination Street Fine Art
Image: Tee Time by Paul B. Lotz. Images provided by Fascination Street Fine Art
Image: Ode to Amelia Earhart by Paul B. Lotz. Images provided by Fascination Street Fine Art
USE ARROWS TO MOVE THROUGH IMAGES
By Matthew Meyers
For many artists, the creative path is winding and unpredictable. For sculptor Paul B. Lotz, however, the dream took root before he could even spell it. “Since I was two, I knew I wanted to be an artist,” he recalls. “And my parents supported me every step of the way.” Today, that dream lives on in the form of whimsical bronze sculptures that feel both ancient and oddly modern. Playful creatures are frozen mid-thought, historical figures are given surreal new stories, and scenes beckon the viewer to feel something deeper.
Lotz’s journey into sculpture began in earnest in 2010 when he started working with ceramic forms. His style was already taking shape: lighthearted yet intentional, deeply crafted and emotionally engaging. It wasn’t long before another artist saw the potential in his work and encouraged him to explore bronze. Though he was unfamiliar with the medium at first, Lotz gave it a shot and never looked back. “I fell in love with it,” he says. “Over a decade later, bronze is still how I tell my artistic story.”
That story took a pivotal turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many, Lotz lost his job, but instead of panicking, he leaned into his art. “At the time, I was already represented by one gallery that miraculously stayed open,” he says. “And thanks to a twist of fate and the exposure that came with it, I went from one gallery to fourteen within a year and a half.” That’s when it hit him: this wasn’t just a passion. It was a calling.
More than anything, Lotz’s sculptures aim to bring joy and connection. “The world needs a laugh,” he says. “It’s getting crazier, and we need every kind of connection we can hold on to. Things that keep us happy, smiling, humble, pure, and true.” This sentiment is at the heart of his playful, often surreal artwork. Whether it’s a pelican carrying Amelia Earhart skyward or a zebra-carrying golfer mid-swing while a meerkat caddies nearby, each piece invites viewers into a story that feels just offbeat enough to spark curiosity and just human enough to feel familiar.
“Animals and historical figures help people relate,” Lotz says. “They connect us to something timeless. I want to bring the past to the present. I want to keep kindness alive in a world that seems to be losing it.” For him, every sculpture is an opportunity to nudge the world gently toward goodness.
Image: Spirit of Calypso by Paul B. Lotz. Images provided by Fascination Street Fine Art
This guiding principle, kindness at the core, extends to how Lotz experiences success. “I’m just blown away that I get to do this for a living,” he says, his humility unmistakable. “I look around at the other artists I now get to call my peers, and I just think, aren’t we lucky?”
Lotz’s artistic roots run deep into classical inspiration. He speaks fondly of the Renaissance, especially the narrative power of artists like Michelangelo. “Those stories, how they could be told through movement, shape, expression, they inspire me,” he explains. “I want my pieces to look fun at first glance, but I want them to hold a deeper meaning. I want people to get lost in them, to keep looking and keep discovering the story hidden inside.”
His process is equally layered. A single piece might take five months to complete, but Lotz will often spend three of those months simply staring, thinking, waiting for the story to emerge. “It has to speak to me,” he says. “The looks, the emotion, the posture, each element has to build on the last. That’s when it all comes to life.”
When he finally receives a finished piece back from his foundry team, complete with patinas, coloring, and final assembly, he often stands in awe. “I look at it and think, ‘Damn.’ I still get that feeling every time. It blows me away.”
If there’s one thing Lotz treasures, it’s witnessing how people respond to his work. “Sometimes they laugh. Sometimes they cry. But they always feel something,” he says. “And that’s what keeps me going.”
Lotz loves hearing others’ interpretations of his sculptures. Sometimes they find meaning even he hadn’t considered. “I build on that,” he says. “That connection, that shared emotion, is what makes the work real.”
Image: Tee Time by Paul B. Lotz. Images provided by Fascination Street Fine Art
He draws inspiration from fleeting moments, from subtle details that stick in memory. His goal is to capture what he calls perfect imperfection, a tiny gesture, a quirk of posture, or a humorous twist that invites the viewer to pause, smile, or reflect. “I want people to escape into my pieces,” he says. “To find refuge from the world.”
Despite his success, Lotz is grounded and deeply committed to encouraging other artists. His advice: “Don’t be shy. If you’re creating something, be proud of it. Be strong with it. Be kind. Be humble. Be strong within yourself.”
He believes every artist has something to say, and the courage to express it is what sets great work apart. “Stay true to what you believe in,” he says. “Continue to bring kindness through all your efforts. That’s what matters.”
As he continues expanding his reach and sharing his work in more galleries, Paul B. Lotz’s mission remains steady. Create beauty. Spark joy. Build connection. And above all, inspire kindness.
His work will be on display at the Fascination St. Fine Art Gallery booth during the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in July 2025, where he will also be in attendance. But don’t be surprised if, while admiring one of his sculptures, you find yourself smiling without realizing it. That quiet moment of connection, of getting lost in a story, is what his work is truly about.
Because in a world filled with noise, uncertainty, and division, a little whimsy, a little story, and a lot of kindness can go a very long way.
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About the author
Matthew is a writer and artist born and raised in Denver, Colorado. His passion for creativity has followed him throughout his life, taking shape through drawing, sculpting, music, and graffiti. He is deeply moved by the stories behind artistic expression and finds inspiration in studying the work and motivations of other artists. For Matthew, understanding the heart behind the art is both a personal obsession and a source of creative fuel. When he’s not writing or creating, he enjoys listening to music, imagining what’s possible, and finding ways to uplift and inspire others.