About sculptor and painter Mavis McClure

I am now, and have as long as I can remember been, completely in love with the human figure.  There seems no end to the variations of line, beauty, subtlety and soul in our form.  From Giacometti to Jenny Saville, our figure seems the most compelling element of our existence.  In my work I try and create not merely physical representations, shells, but rather something greater, something deeper, something stronger.  A glimpse both inward toward our core and outward toward our potential.  I try to build, without ethnicity, without reference to era, figures that evoke a timeless universal commonality.   

From a purely sculptural standpoint my figures’ large hands and feet seem both to ground the work and allow for greater nuance of gesture.  I particularly want the clay construction process to be obvious, so I usually build the clay pieces in sections.  This may also result from some innate recognition that we as human beings are often both physically and emotionally fragmented.  

My walls are much thinner than other large-scale clay figurative artists (Frey, Arneson).  I think this is due primarily to my being self-taught.   There was never anyone to tell me that I couldn't possibly build them so thin, and more practically, I really needed to be able to move them in and out of the kiln without requiring the help of four large guys every time.  My clay body, which I designed specifically for this larger work, is extremely strong and durable.  

I have recently enjoyed making several larger scale bronze works.  The great pleasure there is that I can build the original works in solid clay (often weighing well over a ton), really getting physically into the work and allowing myself greater latitude and detail in terms of form and surface development. 

I keep some chickens and several Nigerian Pygmy goats at my studio and enjoy making (and eating!) various homemade artisanal goat cheeses.

-Mavis McClure

Selected Exhibitions:
2016                      "The Figure", Turner Carroll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2011                       "Exposed: from the Permanent Collection", American Museum of Ceramic Art
2005                    Chaco Gallery (with Nathan Oliveira & Peter Voulkos), Berkeley, CA
2003                        City of Oakland Art Gallery (with Viola Frey), Oakland, CA
2001                       "Mavis McClure: Solo", LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2000                       “From the Fire” (with Viola Frey), Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
                                “Contemporary Figure”, LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
1999                          Solo Show, Jan Baum, Los Angeles, CA
                                “Enduring Form”, LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
                                  SOFA Chicago
1998                         Solo Show, Virginia Breier, San Francisco, CA
                                "Pedestals & Stretchers", LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
                                "30 Ceramics", John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA
                                  Olive Grove Sculpture Walk, Auberge du Soleil
1997                        "Saving Grace", A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley,  CA
                                "30 Ceramics", John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA
                                  Ceramic Sculpture, Virginia Breier, San Francisco, CA
1996                         "Au Plien Air", A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley,  CA
                                   Ceramic Sculpture, Virginia Breier, San Francisco, CA

Media:                   American Craft
                                 Trend Magazine
                                 Interior Design
                                 San Francisco Chronicle
                                 US News & World Report
                                 San Francisco Examiner
                                 ArtWeek
                                 Albuquerque Journal
                                 Contra Costa Times
                                 San Jose Mercury News
                                 Artdaily.org
                                 NPR

Collections:          American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pasadena, CA
                                 Fourth Street Shopping District, Berkeley, CA
                                 Doug Ring & Cindy Miscikowski, Los Angeles, CA
                                 Bill Rush, San Francisco, CA
                                 Polly Draper & Michael Wolff, NYC
                                 Howard & Matilda Rubin, Santa Fe NM
                                 Estate of Jerry Garcia, Mill Valley, CA
                                 Lynda Tunney, St. Helena, CA
                                 Anita Roddick, West Sussex, England
                                 Robin Eber, Kentfield, CA
                                 James Seitz, Santa Fe, NM
                                 George Gaitanaris, Seattle, WA
                                 Jon Jackson, Las Vegas, NV
                                 J.Michael Samuel, Occidental, CA
                                 Gail Giffen & Chris Pisarra, Lafayette, CA

Education:            Self taught