Forest and Form: Wood Sculpture by David Hostetler is a unique exhibition showcasing some of the late sculptor’s most important wood pieces, created in Athens following his completion of a Master’s degree at Ohio University. It opens on Saturday, April 18, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hostetler Studios & Home (8089 N. Coolville Ridge Rd., Athens, Ohio) and will remain on display through Spring 2027.

Long before his work gained national attention, David Hostetler was a foundational figure in Athens’ cultural life. A beloved and respected professor and founder of Art Park, he helped shape the city’s creative identity for decades. His sculptures remain a visible part of the community, with permanent works on Ohio University’s campus and at the Ohio University Inn.

The exhibition marks the first public showing of Bather (1961), Hostetler’s earliest full female figure and the foundational sculpture that launched his mature artistic voice. Alongside Bather, the show features major wood carvings from the Hostetler personal collection, including works that have never been exhibited in a gallery or museum setting.

Hostetler’s work was widely exhibited and written about during his lifetime, with coverage in Ohio newspapers and magazines beginning in the late 1960s, including outlets in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Youngstown.

Visitors will encounter an immersive installation designed to evoke a forest of carved forms, with towering sculptures—some reaching up to ten feet tall—arranged as a living landscape of American hardwoods and exotic woods. Painted surfaces, natural finishes and the raw presence of grain and scale reveal the evolution of Hostetler’s iconic female archetype across a 69-year sculpting career.

Hostetler’s work draws on a wide constellation of cultural influences, including Native American petroglyphs, ancient Goddess traditions and American folk art, all distilled into a sculptural language that is both modern and timeless. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see these influences side by side in the material that shaped his earliest and most personal explorations: wood.

In addition to the sculptures, the exhibition includes a curated selection of archival articles and features published throughout Hostetler’s life in Ohio and Nantucket media, offering visitors deeper insight into the artist’s public reception and creative evolution.

Forest and Form opens the year-long centennial celebration, David Hostetler: A Century of Form and Spirit, honoring the 100th anniversary of the artist’s birth.

The exhibition is free and open to the public and will remain on view through spring 2027. Private viewings are available by appointment, and group tours are welcome.