Artist: Paul Albright

Step One — Video Interview

July 28th


I first met with sculptor Paul Albright in late July for a video interview that introduced me to both his work and the way he thinks through making. These early conversations are less about summarizing a career and more about understanding how an artist arrived where they are, what instincts have stayed constant, and what continues to evolve. These conversations inform the work moving forward.

Photographed here in his outdoor studio nestled between Akeley and Nevis, Paul is at work on a trumpeter swan sculpture for Cedar Swan in Nevis.

I first discovered Paul’s work at Art Leap shortly after moving to the Heartland Lakes area. Since 2006, Art Leap has introduced regional artists to visitors curious about their artwork, their process, and the ways they draw inspiration from our natural surroundings. I’ve followed Paul’s work ever since.

Working primarily in wood, Paul creates sculptures ranging from intimate relief carvings to large-scale outdoor pieces. His practice is deeply informed by his comfort with tools—many of which he makes himself—a sensibility shaped by growing up on a family farm. This interview established the foundation for what would become a months-long documentation of a sculpture in motion.


The Studio Visits

August–September


Over the course of August and September, I returned for three separate visits to follow Paul as he began, developed, completed, and ultimately installed a Trumpeter Swan sculpture at Cedar Swan in Nevis. These visits allowed me to witness the full arc of a work coming into being—from raw material to finished presence in the landscape.

Sculpture demands patience. Unlike painting, change does not happen instantly. Paul often spoke about how progress can take many steps before becoming visible, and how important it is to hold a clear vision while remaining open to discovery. Mistakes are not interruptions to the process; they are invitations. One decision leads to another, and something unexpected begins to emerge.

The tools, the wood, and the environment all play an active role in this exchange. Paul favors woods like white cedar for outdoor durability and butternut for its warmth and work-ability—materials that respond differently to each cut and gesture. These visits weren’t about capturing a single moment, but about honoring duration: the time it takes to listen to the material and to know when a piece is finished—or when it’s time to let go.



A black and white photo series showing the process of cutting down and removing a large tree in a residential yard.
A person performs a trick on a skateboard by sliding down a handrail in an outdoor setting.
Black and white photographs of birds and bird feathers arranged in a horizontal collage.
A panoramic black and white image showing someone working in a traditional woodshop with stone walls and tools.
A series of black and white photos showing someone catching and handling a large shark in an outdoor setting.
A craftsperson carefully carves intricate details into a stone sculpture using specialized tools.
Close-up view of hands rolling out dough on a floured wooden surface with a rolling pin.
A series of black and white photos showing a craftsperson working on a traditional woodworking project in a rustic workshop.
Black and white photographs of wooden poles with graffiti and stickers in an urban setting.
Black and white photos show traditional Japanese architecture with wooden structures and sloping roofs in a garden setting.
A vintage wooden model seagull hangs suspended from a chain in a dimly lit rustic interior space.
A black and white photo collage showing four outdoor scenes with a person in casual attire standing in garden settings.
Black and white film photos of a person walking through various urban and architectural spaces with dramatic lighting.
A row of rustic wooden cabins nestled among tall trees in a black and white forest setting.
Black and white image of a person demonstrating a sequence of dance movements in an indoor studio space.

The Portrait Session

December 22nd


The studio portrait session brought the focus back to Paul himself, separate from the scale of the sculpture but deeply informed by it. After weeks of observing his process, the portrait became an opportunity to reflect on the qualities that guided his work: attentiveness, restraint, and a trust in intuition built through years of making.

While the studio offers a controlled environment, the goal is not to remove the physicality of Paul’s practice, but to distill it. Upon my request he brought several tools of the trade which were perfect to reflect the man, the artist, the sculptor. What emerges is not a depiction of the work, but of the person behind the work, who listens closely enough to know when a piece is complete.

Black and white portrait series showing someone in a sweater holding a smoking pipe in different contemplative poses.
A black and white portrait series shows the same person in different poses wearing a sweater against a dark background.
Black and white portrait series showing a person smiling and wearing a knit sweater in varying close-up shots.
A sequence of black and white portraits showing expressive hand gestures against a dark background.
Black and white portrait series showing someone wearing a baseball cap and cable knit sweater with changing expressions.
Black and white portrait of a person wearing a cable knit sweater and striped scarf with a bottle balanced on their head.
A dramatic black and white portrait series showing someone eating an apple in sequential frames.
A black and white photo series showing someone playing a saxophone in dramatic lighting and different poses.
A dramatic black and white portrait series showing the same person in different poses and expressions.

Heartland Portraits by Jeremy Simonson


Jeremy Simonson is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.



With the support of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, I’m launching Heartland Portraits—a photographic project that documents the lives, stories, and creative spaces of culture bearers and artisans in the Heartland Lakes region of Minnesota.

Through interviews, documentary photography, and portraiture, this project celebrates the rich cultural heritage of our community while challenging me to grow as both photographer and storyteller. Having been shaped by the creative spirit of this region myself, I’m excited to shine a light on the artists who make this place truly special.



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