Towering Bronze Totems

The late sculptor and avid outdoorsman Rod Kagan moved West from his hometown in New Jersey for the same reason many of us do—he wanted to ski and be closer to nature. In 1973 he left the family butcher business for Ketchum, Idaho, where his amateur love of welding blossomed into a career in sculpture.

Known for his towering bronze and steel totems that reference traditional forms of the Pacific Northwest, Kagan created abstract, industrial art that was meant to be viewed outdoors, among the beloved mountain backdrops that were in his backyard. Though Kagan died in 2010, his legacy lives on through Gail Severn Gallery, which manages sales of his sculptures, including the 9-foot-tall bronze totems “King and Queen.” $75,000 for the pair.