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Origin
Grounded in Water, Wood, and Story
Born in Carmel, California, David Wirth developed a deep connection to the ocean while exploring the tide pools of nearby Pacific Grove.
From an early age, he displayed a natural talent for art and discovered a love for sculpting wood. As his passion for the outdoors grew alongside his artistic ability, the two became inseparable.
In 1994, David found the perfect way to unite his love of nature and woodworking through sculpture. His first piece was a fish carved from a scrap of oak using a fillet knife. That first carving became the foundation of a career dedicated to capturing the movement, power, and spirit of the natural world.
The Journey to Kawika Kaiola
While living in California, David crossed paths with a Hawaiian elder named Hal; the guardian of ancient Hawaiian traditions. From the moment they met, there was an unspoken recognition between them. Hal then gave David a rare opportunity, he invited David back to Maui to learn the Hawaiian ways.
Under his guidance, David was devoted to learning the wisdom, tradition, and spirit of Hawaii. Soon the Hawaiian elders noticed the sincerity in David's heart and granted the blessings to create the Makua. An ancient fishhook embodying the circle of life. They also gifted him a name. Kawika Kaiola "Giver of Life, Ocean of Life."
Since then his life has been transformed. Every piece David creates carries the spirit of the land and the sea and the teachings from that journey.
The Story Continues
Over the years, he expanded his work into limited-edition bronze sculptures, featuring rich jewel-tone patinas and remarkable movement.
David's work has earned recognition at fine art and wildlife exhibitions across the United States and internationally. His success led to appearances at prestigious events such as the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament and the Bisbee's Los Cabos Offshore Tournament, guest artist features on Familiar Waters, and eventually hosting his own television series, Wildlife Art Gallery with David Wirth, on the Outdoor Channel.
David also spent 15 years in Islamorada in the Florida Keys, where he operated several galleries and spent countless days on the water, drawing inspiration from the exceptional fishing and marine life that surrounded him.
Today, David lives with his wife Bobbi and works in Oak Hill, Florida, where his studio, Wirth Woods, a crooked wood forest, sits on 10.5 wooded acres of pure inspiration. He creates sculptures from locally harvested hardwoods: including oak, magnolia, sweetgum, and red cedar. As well as treasured woods collected throughout his travels in California, Maui, and the Florida Keys.
Rooted in a lifelong respect for nature, David's work celebrates conservation, his faith, and the beauty of creation. Through his sculptures and support of conservation organizations and charitable causes around the world, he hopes to inspire others to appreciate and protect the natural world.
Photo credit - Jon Whittle
Philosophy
The Material Directs
Every material David works with has already lived a life.
Rare woods carry the shape of the tree, the place it grew, and the conditions that formed its grain. Antler carries the strength and character of the animal. Fossil coral holds the memory of ancient water. Bronze begins with an original form and preserves the presence of the artist’s hand in a lasting material.
David’s philosophy is rooted in honoring that history rather than covering it up. He studies the material, follows its movement, and shapes each piece in a way that allows its natural character to remain visible.
This is what gives the work its sense of memory. Each sculpture, carving, piece of jewelry, or functional object is nature, story, and craftsmanship brought into form.
The Process
Every sculpture begins with the wood itself.
David says, "The wood tells the story, its grain, color, and movement reveal what it can become."
Rather than forcing a design, David studies each piece of wood until its natural character suggests the subject and motion hidden within.
Using a chainsaw, he roughs out the initial form before spending countless hours hand carving, refining, and sanding every surface. This slow, deliberate process allows the sculpture to emerge naturally from the wood while preserving its unique beauty. As David likes to say, "It's finished when it smiles at you.
Mediums
Many Forms, One Point of View
David’s work moves across sculpture, jewelry, furniture, and paint, but the point of view remains the same: honor the material, follow the form, and create something with presence.
Some pieces are carved from rare woods shaped by grain, age, and origin. Others are cast in bronze, built for permanence and weight. His jewelry brings the same spirit into a wearable form, while his furniture preserves the character of the wood in pieces meant to be lived with.
Whether large or small, functional or purely sculptural, each work carries David’s eye for movement, balance, texture, and story.
Jewelry
Bronze Sculpture
Wood Sculpture
Hand-shaped from natural materials and precious metals, each piece carries meaning, connection, and the mark of the maker.
Wood Sculpture
Bronze Sculpture
Wood Sculpture
Carved from rare and storied woods, each sculpture follows the natural grain, movement, and character already present in the material.
Bronze Sculpture
Bronze Sculpture
Furniture & Functional
Cast in bronze with weight and permanence, these works preserve the motion, detail, and spirit of David’s original forms.
Furniture & Functional
Furniture & Functional
Furniture & Functional
Built to be lived with, these pieces balance function and form while preserving the beauty and history of the material.
Antler
Furniture & Functional
Antler
Carved from antler, each piece embraces the material’s organic texture, natural variation, and enduring connection to the wild.
COMMISSIONED WORKS
Begin with a Conversation
Many of David’s most meaningful works begin with a conversation about a place, a fish, a memory, a tournament, or a life lived close to the water.
From large sculptures and bronze work to dining tables, trophies, and personal pieces, commissions allow David to shape his work around a specific story, setting, or purpose.
A Gallery Built on Relationships
Wirth Gallery is not built around anonymous transactions. It is built around original work, personal conversations, and the relationships that form when someone connects with a piece.
David and Bobbi welcome collectors, visitors, and first-time buyers who want to understand the work before bringing it into their home, business, or collection. Whether someone is exploring a small piece of jewelry, considering a major sculpture, or beginning a custom commission, the experience is personal.
That is part of what makes the gallery different. The work carries a story, and so does the person who chooses it.
Contact Us
Have a question about an available work, visiting the gallery, or something you’ve seen in David’s collection? Send us a note and we’ll be in touch.
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
