Artwork of the Week: September 9, 2024
Contemporary ceramicist Anne Currier blurs the lines between sculpture and craft. This untitled work from 1985 reflects her interest in “anamorphosis,” or “the evolution of one type of organism from another by a series of gradual changes.” Spherical cross-sections, concave arches, and intersecting crevices meet and morph as the viewer circulates the object. The shady greens of Currier’s monochromatic palette strategically imitate the effects of light and shadow—elements just as important as the ceramic forms themselves in rendering this work. Although the sculpture can be appreciated for its three-dimensionality, its geometric quality also invites a flattened, Cubist perspective not unlike a Picasso painting.
The exact texture of the object remains intentionally vague: is it hard as stone, rough as sand, or squishy as foam? Though it appears quite solid, the sculpture has a hollow interior—not unlike traditional ceramic pottery—and glazed two separate ways to achieve a gritty surface. Currier often finds herself inspired by the wintery hues she experiences in Allegany County, Maryland. According to the artist’s statement, “The subdued colors and sand-like glazed surfaces direct focus to other associations and create ambiguities about visual and tactile perceptions.”*
*Anne Currier, “Artist Statement,” Burchfieldpenney.org, accessed July 12, 2024.
