"Floating Clouds Over a Topaz Sky" by Joel Otterson features intricate metalwork framing a central stone with natural, cloud-like patterns. The composition combines delicate floral metal motifs with a central, translucent stone that suggests a serene sky. Otterson's style blends domestic craft techniques with robust materials, juxtaposing traditional femininity with understated strength. This piece exemplifies Otterson's exploration of cultural nuances and the fusion of art and craft, hinting at his broader thematic fascination with American identity and the intersection of high and low culture. ...
For the past 30 years, Joel Otterson has made sculpture, which combines aspects of domestic handicraft with traditional sculptural materials. Copper pipe, woodworking, pottery, porcelain, china, earthenware, concrete, marble, stained glass, quilting and lacemaking are the raw materials of Otterson’s sculpture. Utilizing practices such as sewing, and quilting, traditionally associated with feminine craft making, Otterson turns these humble materials into muscular art. The artist blurs the line between high and low culture, art and craft to create poignant sculptures, which are both utilitarian and de-constructivist sculptural objects. Through this endeavor, Otterson explores various cultural and political phenomena such as Rock N Roll, Baseball, and what it means to be an American. ...
Ehrlich Steinberg is an LA-based contemporary art gallery founded in 2023. The gallery exhibits national and international artists with a focus on emerging and research-based practices.
