Tuesday, May 5, 2009

otherworldly or innerworldly

Reno-based sculptor Rebekah Bogard's ceramics were featured recently on my love for you is a stampede of horses. Clearly her work exists in a world of its own, though I can see how it connects with the otherworldly work of the previously featured Renee Adams. Her work also features reinterpreted flora and fauna. She is playing with the innocence and yet complexity of animals. She is playing with stereotypes, of gender, cuteness, and colour, and yet there is this rawness and openness. Femininity with power. Check out her site.


Botany of Desite 26" x 19" x 10" (2007) Earthenware, underglaze, glaze


For Your General Bliss 18" x 16" x 10" (2006) Earthenware, underglaze, glaze, resin


On the left: Addiction 9" x 7" x 6" (2001) Earthenware, underglaze, glaze
On the right: Floridus Animalis 29" x 17" x 16" (2003) Earthenware, underglaze, glaze,terra sigillata, metal rods

Courtney 19.5" x 29" x 15.5" (2001) Earthenware, underglaze, glaze, metal rods

Another female ceramic artist subverting the traditional use and forms of china and ceramic sculpture is Canadian superstar Shary Boyle. Her surreal, yet exquisite sculptures also have something to say about sexuality, and gender. She also uses animals, flowers and things which could be cute, or feminine, in a different context. If you don't already know her work, check out her site, where you will also find drawings, paintings and projected art.


2006. Snowball. Porcelain, china paint. 24cm tall.


2006. Ouroboros. Porcelain, china paint, gilt. 16cm tall.


2004. Porcelain, china paint. 26cm tall.

4 comments:

  1. these are all awesome, but the china spider woman is the MOST WONDERFUL and AMAZING!!!

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  2. Thanks R! It makes me think of Ariadne. There is a new book out on Shary Boyle. I've seen it at Magic Pony.

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  3. I love the rebekah bogard pieces alot.

    but while I respect Shary Boyle, and I think she is a very talented artist, I have actually always disliked her work.

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  4. Interesting.
    You should check out Rebekah Bogard's site. There are some great sculptures which I could not post without some, you know, parental guidance type warnings.

    (I mean cute creatures in ceramics can procreate all they want and have shapes reminiscent of female anatomy as far as I am concerned, but not so much with everyone else).

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