Dave Dunn’s artwork is defined by a rare blend of whimsy and primal mystery, infused into metal constructions that feel both ancient and alive. Drawing inspiration from a metallurgical past long lost to modernity, his sculptures often reference medieval imagery, invoking historical allegory while breathing abstract nuance and fantasy into his naturalistic creations.

Through the fusion of rugged steel, predator symbolism, and historical motifs of conflict and survival, Dunn’s creatures emerge as otherworldly beings—mysterious, fantastical, and strangely familiar. His lifelong environmental awareness informs his process: found objects, salvaged metal, and repurposed tools are reborn with movement, emotion, and unexpected personality. The result is a contemporary, empathetic reflection on the natural world—one that challenges viewers to see both beauty and strangeness in its rawest forms.

Raised along Harris Creek on the Chesapeake Bay, Dunn began his artistic journey by turning driftwood and tide-washed debris into imaginative creations, inspired by dreams of what might dwell beneath the waves. His formative years also included time in Paris, where, as the son of an American diplomat, he was surrounded by the gothic and renaissance visual language of Europe—a visual vocabulary that still echoes throughout his work.

Today, Dunn splits his time between “Dunn In Metal Studios” in Silver Spring, Maryland, and his original workshop in Bozman on the Eastern Shore. His recent career milestones reflect the growing recognition of his unique vision: in Fall 2024, he debuted his first “flying” critters at the Maryland Waterfowl Festival, a highlight of his participation in the event. In February 2025, Dunn held his first solo museum show as the Featured Southern Artist at Discovery Park of America, where he introduced a new collection inspired by the native species of northwest Tennessee. Building on that momentum, he unveiled an expanded series of flying critters in April during his solo exhibition, Taking Flight, at the Zebra Gallery in Maryland.