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Anvil Williamson

Modeled after a desert hedgehog. Quills are composed of cast-away materials including tubing, rope, acrylic twine, zip ties, etc.
Piece was fired in many pieces and assembled post-firing with epoxy, wire and cold clays. Slipcast components are glazed and soda fired, sculpted figure is white stoneware finished with latex paints and wax to appear bronzed. Eyes are tiger's eye gemstones.
Piece includes components that were fired separately and attached post-firing.
Matte glaze is sealed with acrylic stains. Pieces fired separately and assembled post-firing with epoxy and wire.
Anvil Williamson
This is a wall-hanging piece modeled after a tardigrade.
Anvil Williamson
Anvil Williamson
This piece was fired in parts and assembled post-firing on a wooden armature with epoxy.
This piece was fired in numerous parts and assembled post-firing on a steel armature with epoxy and wire.
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Statement

I am interested in our human sense of purpose and whether it is innate or the product of individual experience. Through ceramic and mixed media sculpture I explore the roles of suffering and empathy in the individual life.

Though I utilize animal imagery my content is human. Similar to the anthropomorphism found in children’s books and stories, I find animals to be useful conduits for exploring subtle or difficult human concepts. I combine biological forms with mechanical or industrial components as a representation of the inner life and unseen components of a subject.

My process often involves copious amounts of writing, research into human and animal behavior, listening to personal narratives and spending time outside, observing nature. In practice I work mainly in ceramics, sometimes utilizing mixed media and found objects, incorporating a high level of detail and layering that often requires a second, closer look.

— Anvil Williamson

Bio

Anvil Williamson was born and raised in the Spokane Valley of Washington state but has been a permanent resident of Fairbanks, Alaska since 2008. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2016 and became a full-time studio artist in 2017. Anvil’s upbringing was characterized by an emphasis on process and meaning by her engineer-turned-pastor father and musician mother. Both theology and the scientific method were held in high regard during her early education, encouraging the formation of a deep curiosity about both the physical design and unseen purpose of living things.Anvil is also passionate about encouraging students to be empathetic thinkers and thoughtful makers. She enjoys being a public-school artist-in-residence as well as a private instructor.

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