Coleton Lunt

My studio practice is about evolution and the constant state of becoming. Choices are made by giving agency to the clay and letting its physical characteristics influence form. This process has shown me how biologic evolution is the same as formal evolution.

My clusters of objects are about relationships. I view them as a muddle of creatures engaging with their surroundings. Each organism serves a role as they contribute and take away from their habitat. Together they create a complex system of interdependent relationships. The individual and the collective are equally important.

I hope the viewer gains a sense of their place within this web of life. There is no hierarchy, only symbiotic and interdependent relationships. Exploration and engagement with the natural world stimulate philosophical notions of what it means to be alive and evolve. Exploratory viewing of the installation mirrors this in effect, and discoveries are made by taking a closer look.

— Coleton Lunt

I grew up in a geologic mecca, southern Utah, where the red sandstone seems to be deliberately sculpted by geologic forces. I was a hiking guide in this place for seven years, half of which I sold pots out of my car to clients, earning enough to put myself through college. During my BFA at Northern Arizona University, I developed an aesthetic for wood-fired pottery, inspired by the rocky landscapes of home. At the University of Notre Dame, I built upon my pottery aesthetic to create sculptural forms. Now that my MFA is complete, I am indulging in creative idle time while devising my next move into the career of an artist. In the coming year, I aspire to be part of a university or public studio while my aesthetic interests continue to evolve.