Using white earthenware, Jeff Pender creates ritualistic abstract sculpture and totems in his North Carolina studio. His surfaces are finished to resemble other materials like bone, wood or metal. Some pieces are finished with gold luster or iron wash, or embellished with glass and wood. The Totems are interactive human-sized sculptures, about six feet tall. The viewer can arrange and turn the ceramic cubes for a totally different effect. His smaller scale sculpture is both sophisticated and ceremonial, and feels like it was unearthed from another time. This multi-faceted artist also works in two dimensions, creating wall tiles mounted on wood that channel astronomy, mysticism and modern art masters like Miro.
“Endless Line Totem”, white earthenware, glass, wood, metal. 11.5 x 11.5 x 70” inches.
