Curvilinear Reductionism

By splitting and then meticulously carving Colorado Yule Marble, Martin Cooney has developed an innovative process that removes 80 to 90 percent of the original block’s bulk. This groundbreaking method allows him to sculpt large-scale works that would otherwise weigh hundreds of pounds, rendering them immobile and impractical for most collectors.

As Cooney often suggests, the next time you encounter a marble sculpture larger than a few inches, ask yourself: “How much does it weigh? Could I lift it?”

His guiding principle is straightforward: if the sculpture can’t be carried by hand, it isn’t finished.

Through this philosophy, Cooney creates lightweight, portable marble sculptures that can be picked up, moved, and displayed with ease. His Collection Series features a wide range of sizes and styles, each piece carved with extraordinary care and detail—from bold, statement-making works to more intimate, contemplative forms.

Among the most admired are his Hand Carved Marble Bowls, celebrated for their flowing lines and portability he calls Curvilinear. Some are carved so thinly that light shines through, illuminating the marble from within and revealing the ancient stone in an entirely new way.

Marble has always been known for its beauty—but rarely for its practicality. With his signature approach, Revolutionary Reductionism, Martin Cooney redefines what marble sculpture can be: elegant, accessible, and remarkably portable.