Joan Walton
Joan Walton
Strong, animated textural surfaces are the hallmark of Walton’s hand-built clay vessels, an exposition and interpretation of barely seen and often overlooked details abundant in the natural world. The bold, yet lyrical work reflects a lifetime of careful observation of the multi-layered buildup and natural wearing away of objects found on the forest floor and shoreline.
“In my work, I explore my thoughts about exposure and protection, vulnerability and inaccessibility, and the passage of time and beauty. The forms are inspired by the somewhat off-balance symmetry of cracked and broken plant structures, exoskeletal remains and invertebrate creatures. I am engaged by the construction and wearing away of these found objects and what beauty might be hidden inside them.”
Walton has a BFA from Pratt Institute. Her passion for clay work followed an extensive career as an art director and photo editor in the publishing field. After some years as potter, a foray into building sculptural vessels developed into her primary focus. Her award-winning work has been exhibited widely in the United States, as well as abroad. She lives in Brooklyn and Montauk, NY, where she has recently built a studio.