All purchased artworks will be shipped after the end of the exhibition on December 9th.
*Please note there is a small chip on the bottom foot of the mug, more pictures can be sent if interested in purchasing this piece.
Lionel Clark, Tragedy, 2024, Mid-Fired B-mix clay fired multiple times, Thrown from and altered
I create things that seem familiar but never existed. My work is distressed to look aged, like something you would find on a shelf in the back of your grandfather's shed. They are objects that he may have once told you what they were, but you can't quite recall. I design my work to look old, heavy, and well-built, which could outlast all of us, even though they are not used anymore. My work looks like it is waiting to be restored, brought back to life by someone who sees its worth. These items have been customized, with switches, buttons, and knobs, and they begging to be touched. My imagery is inspired by my memories of shrimp boat engines, junk cars, and shady corner stores of my youth that were (and still are) a big part of my life.
I make these objects as a way to capture pieces of my past in a sculptural way. In doing so, they allow me to reflect on my life and understand how I am the person that I am today. I have been told that my work has a certain whimsy, which I would agree; however, it’s a whimsy that has taken a few bumps along the way. Many of the pieces have a countertop vending machine feel which comes from shopping with my grandmother as a child.
To create my work, I use Laguna B-mix clay and fire it multiple times in an oxidation atmosphere. The temperatures range from cone 6 to cone 018 depending on the stage of the process. My work begins as sketches and writings, which help me visualize an outcome. I throw or slab-build forms then hand-build, extrude, and stamp embellishments. Next, I texture my work using a variety of tools. The images that decorate my work begin as hand-drawn images and then are digitized and turned into screen prints. Some of the images are recreated using underglazes painted by hand.
Using these techniques and processes allows me to create works I hope will inspire engagement. The embellishments I create beckon the viewer to ask, “What does that switch do?"