An Interview With Dean Millien
By Brandon Wisecarver
photos by Bree Chapin
I first met Dean at Con Artist Collective on Ludlow Street maybe 8 or so years ago. He was a favorite of founder Brian Shevlin and I could immediately see why. His body of work mainly consists of animal sculptures made entirely from tin foil, often life-sized. I have delivered 2 huge elephant heads to collectors in the past and everyone involved was completely floored by their scale and realism. I needed a Millien for myself. Dean is a special and all too rare kind of artist. His talent as a sculptor is undeniable yet he’s as humble a person as you’ll ever meet. His latest show title couldn’t be more fitting.
Dean Millien’s solo show “One In A Millien” is currently on display at the Summertime Gallery in Brooklyn (145 Ainslie St) until April 10th.
I hadn’t heard of Dean showing work since he made me a literal platypus in a party hat for my pop-up gallery project of the same name and was devastated that I had to miss the opening reception. So, I asked Bree Chapin to take pictures and to give him my love. The gallery looked packed with patrons. I recognized some of the pieces on the walls and around the central table - where sat the star of the show - a life size crocodile with its maw agape. Dean later tells me in our interview that he constructed it in 48 hours prior to the show’s opening. It took over 30 multi pack boxes of heavy duty tin foil to complete.
Brandon: Are you happy with the show?
Dean: “Absolutely, they let me do whatever I wanted. I painted the gallery walls black”
Brandon: I noticed! What’s up with that?
Dean: “You know me, I like that gothic stuff. I think the sculptures pop more when you spot-light them.”
Brandon: That croc is massive! What will your next subject for a sculpture be?
Dean: “I’m always going to be ‘that gorilla guy’ because I’m known for making life sized gorillas but what I really want to do is Bigfoot. I’ve always wanted to make Bigfoot. I would make him BIG though, that’s what I would do.”
Brandon: How big are we talking?
Dean: “As big as the room! Maybe even just his legs. I want to have him burst out of the building!”
Brandon: Haha! That’s awesome. I’m hyped for that one. (Dean’s enthusiasm is palpable and contagious) who are your biggest influences, artistically?
Dean: “Popeye, Tom and Jerry, The Pink Panther, Scooby Doo and Jabberjaw.”
Brandon: (laughing) I think you’ve surpassed them now! You’re like the Rodin of tin foil. Some of your work is very realistic and quite beautiful. How did you learn to do that?
Dean: “I learned the realistic stuff by hanging out with you guys at the old studio! I learned a lot from the other artists there.”
Brandon: How likely is it that people can meet you if they come out to see your show at Summertime?
Dean: “I’m here gallery sitting all month.”
Brandon: What are the gallery hours?
Dean: “...I don’t know actually” (Friday - Sunday 12pm to 6pm)
Brandon: Artist hours then, open when open and closed when closed?
Dean: “Haha, yeah I like that. I’ll be around in the afternoons and early evenings.”
…and you should go check this show out! Dean’s work has been featured by the New York Times, The New York Post, and Macy’s. Be careful, you might fall in love and have to carry home a life-sized crocodile. They are heavier than they look.