Exhibition Time…

I’ve been teasing this exhibition on Instagram for the last six months, and I’m really excited to finally share that I’ll be part of Elemental Connections at the Art Vault in Lancaster, Pennsylvania along with other amazing artists.

Elemental Connections Opening Reception: August 7, 5:00–8:00 PM

I’m incredibly excited to be part of this exhibition. I’ve been planning and creating work for months, and I’m finally getting everything prepared. I have one more piece that needs to go into the kiln, and after that, I’m pretty much finished. I wish I had been able to complete one more piece, but I’d rather wait and take my time with it than rush the process.

While working on this body of work over the past six months, I’ve noticed a significant change in my sculptures. In many ways, they’ve begun to mirror my painting style. I’ve found myself leaning into far more detail, almost to the point of going overboard, but I honestly don’t mind. My work seems to be moving in a new direction, becoming more hyperrealistic while still holding onto elements of abstraction. It feels like this is where I was always meant to end up, but I needed the last two and a half years to find my way here and become truly comfortable with the medium.

I believe that comfort has been a huge part of why the work has progressed so much. As I’ve gained a better understanding of the material, I’ve learned how to manipulate it with more confidence. I think confidence is essential in any artistic practice. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped learning, far from it. I still have so much I want to experiment with, and I’m excited for the next chapters of my work. I honestly believe the direction I’m heading will be a game changer over the next few months.

Sometimes I look back at my older work and compare it to what I’m making now, and I wonder, How did I get here? My artist statement hasn’t changed, but the work itself has evolved dramatically. For the past couple of years, I’ve wanted my sculptures to better reflect that statement, and I finally feel like I’m starting to achieve that. I definitely don’t produce as many pieces as I used to because of how much time each one takes, but I wouldn’t change that for anything. The work has become much more complex, and I feel it communicates my ideas in a stronger, more authentic way.

One thing I also wanted to mention is the cleanup after a long six-month stretch in the studio. There’s something incredibly rewarding about cleaning everything up and seeing the space look almost untouched. During production, I usually have multiple tarps spread across the floor, an air ventilator running, and clay everywhere. The before-and-after transformation is honestly incredible.

I’ll be taking about a two-week break from sculpture. I have a lot of work from the classes I’ve taught over the past three months that still needs to be fired, so that will be my focus for the time being.

I’ll see you all soon.

Cheers,

-Aubrey M