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Maya Sophie Stansbury

“The artwork I create is the lovechild of my greatest passions”

-MSS

Artist Statement

Influenced by a deep reverence for nature and an insatiable curiosity about its inhabitants, my artwork becomes a tactile and aesthetic connection to the natural world. These sculptures involve complex subtractive carving of the ceramic surfaces, yielding increasingly detailed and delicate landscapes. This technique pushes the boundaries of clay, often resulting in structural vulnerabilities during firing—an allegorical nod to humanity’s exploitative rapport with nature. This subtractive approach to ceramics reflects on humanity’s inexorable depletion of natural resources, a trajectory that propels ecosystems and species toward obsolescence.

Synthesizing my background in drawing, painting and collage, I transmute my skills into ceramic vessels and sculptures that serve as multi-dimensional canvases. Drawing inspiration from nature’s harmonious choreography, these artworks encapsulate my endeavor to restore an elemental rapport with primordial origins. Through this artistry, I prompt introspection, urging viewers to reflect upon the significance of endangered species and the irreplaceable beauty of the natural world. My artwork resonates as a poignant reminder of our shared responsibility as custodians of this planet.

 

“The Art of Conservation” 

This endangered species project sentimentalizes the beauty vanishing from our natural world to captivate the curious mind. Scientific journals and conservation outreaches connect with broad audiences, but dry scientific jargon often makes the information intimating. The mode of communication commonly used is often not captivating enough to secure the viewers’ attention. Art as a tool in activism acts as a visual transmission which communicates complex information in a simple, engaging, and memorable way. Art invokes a uniquely enticing presence, which not only builds intrigue but also seeds questions within the viewer: ideally what, how and why. This is what makes this project effective in bridging the gap between the scientific community and the general populace. The artist creates beautiful objects as a more accessible and inviting platform for environmental education. Each piece produced reflects a high time commitment and a passion for the work, exemplified in the intricacy and detail which animate the sculpture, and “bring the animal to life”. The thrown vessels are used as a canvas upon which sculptural and painterly techniques are used to capture the essence of the species and environment. The stunningly ornately nature of these ceramic artworks results in an aestheticized rendering of risk biodiversity. By presenting this environmental issue of mass extinction through a beautified lense, the conversations on conservation become more alluring.

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