Emily Duke

Artist Statement

Through Slab and hand-building processes in clay I organize compositions of tension married to beauty and capture the sense of the monumental found in industry. The American landscape, vernacular architecture, and manufactured serviceable objects are at the root of my sculpture. My process is heavily based on physical volume and symmetry. I look at the formal geometry of typical tools such as a shop wrench, or push broom; imposing new proportions and methods of fabrication. Abstractions of volume, color and texture aids in confusing and negating function.

Bio

Emily Duke is currently a graduate student at The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She spent the last two years as an Artist in Residence at Red Star Studios in Kansas City , Missouri and was named an Emerging Artist of 2013 by Ceramics Monthly Magazine. Duke earned her undergraduate degree in 2009 from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI. She spent several years on staff at Ox-Bow School of Art and Artist Residencies. Recent and forthcoming group exhibition venues include The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts of Grand Rapids, Eastern Michigan University, Belger Arts Center, St. Pete Clay and 18 Hands Gallery in Houston, TX . Solo exhibition venues include Re:View Contemporary Gallery, See Art + Design, Detroit and Frontier Space in Missoula, MT.