Label TextCraftsmanship and traditional obj ect making are at the heart of Martin Puryear’s art. As well as being influenced by African, Scandinavian, Japanese, and Native American woodwork, Puryear gathers inspiration from the natural qualities of his materials and the details of the sculpting process. The resulting works are often, like In Sheep’s Clothing, organic abstractions that retain hints of recognizable imagery. Here, the outer form suggests the body of sheep, though the title implies this is only a disguise for the works hidden hollow inside. Rounded smooth shapes and intriguingly concealed centers are recurring forms in Puryear’s work. Another Puryear trademark is the rich nature of the sculpture’s surface, with its visible traces of the artist’s woodworking and focus on tactile qualities of the pinewood.
Exhibition HistoryMartin Puryear. Parasol Unit, London, September 19 - December 8, 2017
Published ReferencesArdalan, Ziba ed. "Martin Puryear". London: Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, 2017. pg. 67.
Born in Washington, D.C., the eldest of seven children, Martin Puryear studied art at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After graduating, he enlisted in the Peace Corps and spent two years in a remote area of Sierra Leone on the west coast of Africa. This exposure to to a pre-industrial society with its many handmade objects, is reflected in his sculpture. Following the Peace Corps, he went to Stockholm, Sweden to study etching and sculpture and was inspired by Scandanavian woodwork. He returned to the United States to pursue a graduate degree at Yale University.
Source: News, July August 1999.
Exhibition HistoryMartin Puryear. Parasol Unit, London, September 19 - December 8, 2017
Published ReferencesArdalan, Ziba ed. "Martin Puryear". London: Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, 2017. pg. 67.
DimensionsOverall: 53 1/2 × 62 3/4 × 13 1/2 in. (135.9 × 159.4 × 34.3 cm)
Accession Number 1998.56
Classificationssculpture
ProvenanceArtist; (David McKee Gallery, New York); Des Moines Art Center [purchased from the previous, 1998]
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