“Concentricity” by Jonathan Whitfill

Two towering sculptures will make their first appearance at this year’s Lubbock Arts Festival—each standing 13 feet tall and weighing 700 pounds. Created by Lubbock-based artist Jonathan Whitfill, the works are part of his Concentricity series and bring bold geometry and refined craftsmanship together on a monumental scale.

Built from precisely cut steel rings, the sculptures rise upward in layered circular forms that feel both strong and surprisingly graceful. As you walk around them, the shapes shift and open, revealing new angles and shadows. What might first read as industrial becomes something far more elegant—almost like a jewel magnified to architectural proportions.

That connection is intentional.

Whitfill often reflects on his childhood spent helping in his grandparents’ jewelry store. He remembers polishing rings and watching stones catch the light. Years later, while cutting circular forms from steel pipe, he began to see those early memories resurface in his work. The rings he creates today echo the mounted gemstones he once handled. Even the sound of the cut metal striking the studio floor—a clear, resonant “ring”—has become part of the meaning behind the series.

Whitfill earned his Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Texas Tech University and has developed an extensive portfolio of public artworks across the country. His installations can be found in permanent collections throughout Texas and beyond, reflecting his commitment to craftsmanship, scale, and thoughtful design.

After their debut at the Lubbock Arts Festival, the sculptures will be installed at Marsha Sharp Freeway & Avenue L and at the South Loop 289 & I-27 Flyover, where they will remain on view for two years.

This exhibit is made possible by the Sessions Family Foundation. This program (exhibit) made possible in part through a grant from the City of Lubbock.