Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 39
Occupation: Full-time artist.
Instagram: @energygloop
Hometown: Lincoln, RI.
Studio location: Los Angeles.
Describe what you make: I make abstract sculptures out of ceramic and glaze. Sometimes the glaze has more mass than the ceramic shell itself. This creates a contrast between texture, weight, and form. I enjoy exploring the balance between these elements—often pushing the boundaries of what the material can do.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The body of work I’ve created, titled Craters, is the most important ongoing series in my studio. The studio environment I’ve designed, from its simple design, to its naturally lit open space, has allowed for the evolution of this series over the past eight years, shaping both the process and the results.
Describe the problem your work solves: My attempts to conquer the unconquerable set of challenges presented by the inherent difficulty of clay and glaze is an ongoing battle. Each piece is a new test of practice and adaptation to the material’s unpredictability. I love the balance between these elements, which is why clay and glaze are my prime choice of material. It’s a constant tension that drives my work forward, one work feeding into the next, with the evolution being the most exciting.
Describe the project you are working on now: I’m getting ready to open my first exhibition at Sean Kelly Los Angeles, titled “Staring at the Moon.” The works reference some of the most remote parts of the planet that I’ve traveled to such as the Amazon Rainforest, the Galápagos Islands, and the Ngorongoro Crater, in Tanzania, which I’ve translated into these sculptural forms.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I enjoy working and showing internationally, and I have forthcoming projects in Athens, Paris, and Brussels. These will follow my first large solo exhibition in my hometown of Los Angeles, which marks an exciting milestone in my career.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Cleanliness is essential for me before I begin working in my studio. It’s necessary not just for my process but also for the health of both myself and my miniature Dachshund, who’s always by my side. I typically have surround-sound music playing, mostly futuristic and melodic techno.
What you do when you’re not working: I love being at home with my dog, simply watching movies or a television series. I believe maintaining a balance between work, travel, and home life is crucial for staying focused on creating a body of work that is coherent and authentic.
Sources of creative envy: Photography. Being isolated in some of the most remote areas of the Amazon has been an inspiration for my work. I don’t have the courage or patience to pursue it. Nature photography is still a powerful influence nonetheless.
The distraction you want to eliminate: I would love to think less of art as a community and more of an inspiration to myself and others.
Concrete or marble? Concrete.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse.
Remember or forget? Forget.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens for sure. They might not exist here but certainly in our solar system. It’s a topic I often imagine while working in the studio.
Dark or light? Dark.
Portrait courtesy of the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles.
