Hard and Soft: Contrasts in Nature Expressed Through Clay ELIZABETH SHRIVER

LOCATED IN SWEENEY GALLERY

From Elizabeth Shriver:

I work with clay to create an array of graceful, organic forms. These pieces are
constructed using a combination of hand-building methods such as slab-building, coiling,
pinching, and forming with molds. Rarely relying on glaze, I use textures, stains, and
colored clay to add visual and tactile interest. I am drawn toward neutral earth tones, and
my work reflects the natural landscape, plant, and undersea life that are my inspiration.
The curving lines of nature inherent in my work generate an illusion of movement, giving
each piece an almost lifelike quality. A successful piece is one that begs to be touched as
well as explored visually.

I am a native Iowan and a 1987 graduate of the University of Iowa. My interest in art
began during my childhood, when I would often spend my free time painting and
drawing. My focus turned to clay in 1985, when my I took my first course at the University of
Iowa Ceramics Department. I became fascinated with the malleable properties of clay,
and the sculptural possibilities inherent in the medium. Though I was majoring in
psychology rather than art, my newfound interest led me to continue on through all four
semesters of undergraduate studio ceramics.

As I maintained my interest in ceramics into my adult life, I set up my own studio where I
could hone my skills and experiment with new forms. Over the years, I have exhibited my
ceramic sculptures in galleries, and in both solo and group exhibitions throughout the USA.
Most recently, I’ve enjoyed participating in juried exhibitions exploring themes of nature or
“biomorphism.”

https://www.elizabethshriverceramics.com/