MARTHA SIEGEL

VESSELS

01 Vessel, 14.5", 2023

Artist

Biography

I have explored a variety of media throughout my lifetime but often have returned to the materials that are tactile and with which the hand of the artist is visible in the results. The imperfections and “accidents” that occur with the use of papier-mâché have intrigued me, and, together with collage, have been the focus of my work in the past few years.

I craft armatures from wire, plastic, balloons, newspaper or found objects, and use them to create a variety of shapes, which I remove from the armatures once the papier-mâché has dried. I then use this “shape library” to form individual vessels, some inspired by historical references and others by imagination. The surface of each vessel is treated with strips of torn or cut materials, most often strips of magazine papers, art papers, maps and dictionary pages, but sometimes fabrics and other mixed media. This allows me to explore a rich variety of patterns through the surface treatment of each piece.

The process for me is cathartic, as it harkens back to childhood processes and a sense of nostalgia that I return to repeatedly in my work.

02 Vessel, 20.25", 2023

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