This past weekend I visited the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, DC (one of my favorite museums in DC) and found this incredible artwork from the Australian artist, Ron Mueck. He is well known for his super realistic sculptures where he portrays humans at key stages in the life cycle, from birth through middle age, to death.

Mueck was born in 1958 in Melbourne, Australia. The son of German-born toy-makers, he grew up making creatures, puppets and costumes in his spare time, experimenting with materials and techniques. He started his career as a model maker and puppeteer for children’s films (such as Labyrinth, The Storyteller and etc.). Later, he was making photo-realistic props and animatronics for the advertising industry. In 1996 Mueck transitioned to fine art and in 1999 he was appointed as Associate Artist at the National Gallery, London.

His work is simply stunning.