Case Study
Saatchi Art Commission: Venus de Milo Inspired Acrylic Sculpture
Client: Saatchi Art
Project: Large-scale Sculptural Artwork in Cast Acrylic
Location: New York
Manufactured by: Midton, Scotland
Project Brief
Midton Acrylics collaborated with Saatchi Art to produce a striking Venus de Milo inspired sculpture for a luxury hotel art installation in New York. Standing approximately 1.2 m tall, the sculpture reinterprets one of the most iconic works of classical art using modern cast acrylic manufacturing.
The requested sculpture specifications included:
- Height: Approx. 48 inches (1.2 metres)
- Material: Clear cast acrylic
- Construction: Manufactured as one large single-piece cast acrylic sculpture.
- Aesthetic: Classical bust style with smooth sculptural detail
The key challenge was translating a traditional sculptural form into cast acrylic while maintaining structural integrity and high-end visual quality.
Midton’s Approach
3D Design Development
Working closely with the client, Midton’s design team:
- Created and refined the 3D sculpture model
- Adapted the geometry to suit large-scale acrylic casting
- Smoothed and optimised fine details to ensure perfect mould release and clarity
This stage ensured the artwork maintained its classical aesthetic while being manufacturable in cast acrylic.
Moulding Innovation
To produce the sculpture, Midton developed a large-scale two-part mould system.
Key innovations included:
- Modern 3D modelling to engineer mould geometry
- Precision tooling to produce two-part casting moulds
- Segmenting the sculpture into multiple cast components for accuracy and clarity
This approach redefined possibilities in cast acrylic sculpture manufacturing.
Enabled by Midton’s New Autoclave
A key factor in making this project possible was Midton’s recent investment in a large-scale acrylic casting autoclave.
Autoclave capability:
- Maximum casting length: 2.8 metres
- One of the largest cast acrylic production capacities in the world
This allowed Midton to produce large sculptural elements with exceptional optical clarity, something rarely achievable in the cast acrylic industry.
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Manufacturing Process
- 3D design refinement and mould engineering
- Creation of precision two-part casting moulds
- Large-scale cast acrylic pouring and curing
- Controlled autoclave curing process
- CNC finishing and hand polishing
The result is a museum-quality sculptural form combining classical artistry with advanced materials engineering.
I was at the St Regis in New York last week and was able to see the acrylic sculpture in person and it looks stunning.
Chelsea Finical, Saatchi Art
Project Outcome
The final sculpture demonstrates how traditional art forms can be reimagined through modern manufacturing.
Key achievements:
- Large-scale 1.2m cast acrylic sculpture
- Precision multi-part design
- Soft light diffusion and sculptural depth through frosted acrylic surfaces
- A unique fusion of classical sculpture and contemporary materials
Why This Matters
This project highlights Midton’s ability to deliver large-scale artistic installations in cast acrylic — something rarely attempted due to the technical complexity involved.
By combining:
- Advanced 3D design
- Large-scale mould engineering
- Industry-leading casting equipment
Midton continues to push the boundaries of acrylic sculpture, art installations, and architectural design pieces.
Bring your sculpture concept to life in cast acrylic.
Midton works with artists, designers and architects worldwide to transform concepts into museum-quality cast acrylic sculptures and installations.
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