Reconstructing the Unknown: Forensic Sculpture at NYAA

Through the use of science, mathematics, and art, sculptors aim to reconstruct the true appearance of individuals whose identities remain unknown due to the absence of DNA analysis, dental records, or fingerprint analysis. This project, known as Forensic Sculpture, is being taught at the New York Academy of Art for almost a decade. In this year’s workshop, which includes art students and New Jersey state police officers attempting to solve their own missing person cases, the objective is to identify formerly nameless bodies referred to as John Doe and Jane Doe. The artists meticulously mold clay onto exact replicas of genuine human skulls, utilizing scientific principles, geometry, and artistic skill to depict how the individuals appeared during their lifetimes. New Jersey State Police Detective Sergeants Moises Martinez and Gerald Theckston are partaking in this endeavor, constructing the facial features of a 55-year-old Hispanic male and a Caucasian male around forty years old, respectively. By examining the skulls, students may discern various physical qualities such as height and ear and nose measurements. When completed, the sculptures will be captured on camera and presented in a national missing persons database, with hopes that relatives or acquaintances may at last offer a definitive identification. Joe Mullins, a forensic imaging specialist, administers the course since he finds the outcomes highly gratifying. Mullins explained that it is a responsibility linked to his gift to ensure that no family is left uncertain regarding the fate of their loved ones.