Rene Murray's 'Reflections' Alters The Landscape At Clay Art Center

PORT CHESTER, NY — Tall buildings in the sky and faraway places can now be found in one of our favorite spaces in the Hudson Valley, in a much different way than we could have ever imagined.

The Clay Art Center (CAC) will be presenting "Rene Murray: Reflections" in their gallery and online until April 5.

The CAC says that the solo exhibition will feature Murray's architectural sculpture forms, which are reminiscent of both the environment surrounding her in NYC and the buildings that have struck a chord with her during her travels in Europe and other locations.

"Set against handmade crochet backdrops, the forms are at once highlighted and contrasted by the juxtaposition of materials, surface qualities, and making techniques," according to the organizers.

Murray started her ceramics career at the CAC in 1964, and her special relationship with the center continued for eight years before she relocated to Brooklyn, where she maintains her studio practice to this day.

"I want to share the joy that I feel for the beauty and majesty of man-made structures," Murray said. "Although I am inspired by many existing examples of architectural delights, I have also harnessed my own dream and fantasy buildings and brought them to life through the medium of clay."

"During the pandemic, I was unable to work in clay and thus turned toward another medium that I had utilized previously — crocheted fiber tapestries," the artist explained. "I combined the two-dimensional fiber tapestry with the three-dimensional clay sculpture to create one interactive piece. Since the two mediums mirror each other, I have named this show Reflections."

The Opening Reception will take place on Saturday, March 9, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Artist Bio

Rene Murray has been in her artistic practice for over 60 years. She has worked as a professional studio artist, a teacher, a workshop presenter, a retailer, a wholesaler, and a co-curator. Murray's work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Clay Art Center, in group exhibitions at SOFA, Chicago, and featured in the publication Ceramics: Art and Perception. Her work can be found in collections in The Sculptureum of New Zealand, the Williamsburg Art and Historical Society, The Everson Museum of Art, and the Detroit Institute of Art.

The Clay Art Center

The Clay Art Center is a nationally recognized non-profit center for the advancement and practice of ceramic arts offering exhibitions, clay classes for adults and children, studio spaces for clay artists, and outreach programs in the community. It is located at 40 Beech Street, in Port Chester. Find out more about artist programs, CAC classes, exhibits, and items for sale in the shop at the Clay Art Center website.