Marc SIJAN

BIOGRAPHY

Marc Sijan (born 1946, Milwaukee) is an American sculptor internationally recognized for his mastery of hyperrealism. Though based in Milwaukee, his work has been exhibited extensively across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. He has been featured in major institutions including the Smithsonian, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Milwaukee Art Museum, and has presented over 60 solo museum exhibitions worldwide.

Of Serbian descent, Sijan has been honored as one of the most prominent Serbian Americans. His sculptures are held in important public and private collections, including those of notable collectors and cultural institutions. Despite international acclaim, he maintains a private life and continues to work from his studio in Milwaukee.

TECHNIQUE

Sijan is widely regarded as a leading figure in hyperrealistic figurative sculpture. Working over periods of six months to a year per piece, he achieves extraordinary realism through meticulous attention to anatomy, skin texture, hair, and subtle physical details. His sculptures often depict individuals across a wide spectrum of humanity (young and old, strong and fragile), emphasizing narrative and human presence over idealized beauty.

Each work is created with the subject’s consent and is rooted in careful observation and documentation. Through this process, Sijan produces sculptures that challenge perception, frequently mistaken for living individuals, and that engage viewers through both technical precision and emotional resonance.