AMANDA KLIMEK

Amanda Klimek’s ceramic sculpture is highly original and experimental. Her fascination with the natural sciences is immediately apparent. The organic forms of her ceramic sculptures resemble conch shells or skulls split open, roiling waves, and all writhe with life. She has been known to make her own clay in order to achieve the right balance of strength and translucency. But at the heart of it all she is very much a painter, as much of the experimentation in form and color push how light is bent, refracted, and absorbed—the opposite of traditional “glazed” clay. The shapes of her work come into being while she makes them. Her process does not involve pre-planning or maquettes, rather she responds to her materials in the moment. And viewing Amanda’s sculptures is a process of discovery and wonder. Her work recalls and advances the legacy of artists who have boldly combined painting and sculpture: Ron Nagle, Neil William, Elizabeth Murray, and Frank Stella. Amanda received her BFA, summa cum laude, from Pratt Institute, and her MFA in painting from San Francisco Art Institute. She lives and works in the Bayview District of San Francisco.