ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“My sculpture is inspired by personal experiences, a love of ancient art, travel to foreign countries and a lifelong interest in mythology and folk art. My work uses color and a sense of humor to explore modern life.

I’m interested in how things evolve and grow. In my sculpture, human forms merge with the architecture. Eyes become windows, hair becomes a row of shingles, and a head is toped with an animal or architectural shape. Like Greek Janus figures or Siamese twins, many of my sculptures portray two or more figures in close proximity. The grouping of these figures can symbolize husband and wife, siblings, friends, or two sides of he same person.

The expressions of the faces have been described as longing, eager, ecstatic, and otherworldly. Perhaps this reflects a search for deeper meaning and longing to connect with others. When I am working, the faces come alive under my hands and they give the piece its character.

I use references form classical mythology to portray archetypal situations. Ripe goddess figures combine with tree forms and animal shapes, expressing my desire for the harmonious existence of human beings with each other and with natures. While many of these images are inspired by personal experiences, I’ve found that the viewer can find himself in them.”

PROFILE

Cheryl Tall works in clay and mixed media, creating figurative sculpture, which has been shown around the world. She also teaches ceramic sculpture workshops at her studio, museums and universities.

Some of her influences have been Robert Arneson, Viola Frey, Peter Voulkos and Adrian Arleo. She is inspired by medieval art, primitive art, expressionist art, and the works of Paul Klee.

Influenced by her parents, who were both artists, she started painting at a young age and sold her first artwork at age13. She continued working in two-dimensional artwork for several years, mixing color in an abstract manner and building up the surface she was seeking. Her current work blends an abstract painterly quality with the textured surface of three-dimensional clay.

After graduating from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, with a BFA in 1974, she founded Cheryl Tall Sculpture Studio and began making commissioned works in clay. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1995 from the University of Miami, Miami, FL.

Her art has been fueled by a love of travel. She has been selected for artist residencies in Japan, Greece, and the United States. Images of her work have been published in “The Ceramic Design Book, Low Fire Surface Design”, “Studio Potter Magazine”, “Ceramic Monthly Magazine”, “Clay Times”, and “American Craft Magazine”. Tall’s work has won awards in national exhibitions and resides in museum collections.

Born in New Jersey, Tall moved to Florida as a child and lived there for many years. She and her husband decided to follow a lifelong dream and moved to California in 2001. Her current studio is in Solana Beach, California.