Opening Reception | Beyond the Surface

The process of hand-building with clay gives volume and mass to my thoughts and is an integral part of my creative practice. The imprints left on the surface are the indelible record of this method. Through the affordances of this material, earthenware has an uncomplicated way of encoding the marks of my hands, storing those actions, and recalling them to the viewer on its surface. Employing an aesthetic of accumulation, these forms are more than just aesthetically pleasing objects - they represent the value and judgment of relationships between myself and others. As I construct, I am obsessively trying to control chaos. This chaos is reflective of my everyday thoughts and immanent of everyday repetition and routine. How can I create an interesting, subtle form that is confrontational, but eases conflict? This specific material investigation assists in the construction of my perceptions of time, narrative, and self. I am ultimately concerned with the exploration of humanistic ideas about existence, agency, relationships, memory, and mortality.

This is a solo MFA Thesis exhibition by Kyla Culbertson

Exhibition Dates: Nov. 30–Dec. 9, 2023
Opening Reception: Friday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Gallery Hours: Thursday–Saturday, noon–5 p.m.