Michael Gross

'King of Farts' original ceramic vase and relief signed by Michael Gross

1986

"Untitled Vase" is an original ceramic vase by Michael Gross. It features abstracted and grotesque figures on a yellow ground. 11 1/2" x 4 1/2" art The ceramic sculptures of Wisconsin artist Michael Gross are personal narratives that reveal an unusual mix of earthly magic and primal vitality. The artist works in a variety of forms, including figurines, large vessels and furniture. With over a dozen museum exhibitions under his belt, the artist is a regular exhibitor at SOFA in New York...

"Cow and Ballerina" is an original painted wood sculpture by Schomer Lichtner. It features a high-kicking ballerina standing on the back of a cow. The artist signed the piece. 36" x 61" x 26" art Milwaukee artist, Schomer Lichtner passed away on May 9, 2006 at the age of 101. He continued to amaze and create with his whimsical paintings of ballerinas and cows. He and his late wife Ruth Grotenrath, both well-known Wisconsin artists, began their prolific careers as muralists for WPA projects, primarily post offices. Schomer Lichtner was well known for his whimsical cows and ballerinas, such as his "Ballerina Dancing on Cow" sculpture below. The late James Auer, art critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referred to Lichtner as the artist laureate of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the official artist of the Milwaukee Ballet. Lichtner also painted murals for industry and private clients. Schomer was a printmaker and produced block prints, lithographs, and serigraph prints. His casein (paint made from dairy products) and acrylic paintings are of the rural Wisconsin landscape and farm animals. He became interested in cows when he and Ruth spent summers near Holy Hill in Washington County. According to David Gordon, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Schomer Lichtner had a tremendous joie de vivre, " joy of life," and expressed it in his art. Schomer Lichtner was nationally known for his whimsical paintings and sculptures of black- and white-patterned Holstein cows...

Art Column (ART DBG)' is an original signed ceramic sculpture by Robin Campo. It is a rare and early example of the artist's fanciful work, made only a year after he earned his Master of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and while he was developing his reputation through local galleries. Campo is here working in the later traditions of pop art by using the ceramic medium for trompe l'oeil effect: the sculpture is made to look like an oversize stack of toy wood...

31" in height roughly 12-15" wide Ceramic Steven Kemenyffy (born 1943) is an American ceramic artist living and working in Pennsylvania. He is most recognized for his contributions to the development of the American ceramic raku tradition. He has served as a Professor of Ceramic Art at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (formerly Edinboro State College) since 1969. He Has retired from teaching, but continues to produce artwork at his home studio in McKean, Pennsylvania. Kemenyffy is often characterized in regard to his contributions to American experimental ceramics of the late 1960s and early 1970s. More specifically, Kemenyffy’s contributions to American raku techniques are often cited. Kemenyffy has stated that his interest in raku came out of practical considerations: “We [Steven and Susan] were doing a variety of workshops in a variety of different media. Raku was always an official way of making pieces in a short period of time…In raku it seems to compress all the firings into one.” Kemenyffy, himself, describes his early work as “Biomorphic forms alluding to old ceramic traditions such as tiles, vases, and containers.” These works were often in excess of six feet tall and many times included mixed media elements. In 1974, Kemenyffy wrote about the work he was producing; “For several years now, my work has dealt with certain formal considerations. Chief among these is using clay in such a way as to crystallize the moment and permanentize the impermanent. These have been among the primary concerns of all potters since the earliest times.” Today, Kemenyffy continues his pursuit of biomorphic imagery and themes. He writes, “Personally I am most challenged by the business of transforming porous organics into porcelain.” For much of Kemenyffy’s career, he has worked in tandem with his wife, Susan Hale Kemenyffy. In 1987 Susan stated about their collaborative works: “Steven is the [sculptor], I am the drawer. These works would not exist if it weren’t for the sculpture; if it weren’t for the clay. The clay entity comes first and my drawings come second.” James Paul Thompson further clarifies this relationship (as observed in 1987): “Steven Kemenyffy uses patterns as a point of departure for his work, while Susan Kemenyffy...

This 19th century Chinese jardiniere features dragons in different shades of glazed earth tones and a turquoise glaze on the inside. It has good balance and a pleasing silhouette; it...

The two artists were inspired by Mexican the Day of the Dead Tradition and folklore represented on the famous "papel picado" which decorates all the beaut...

Glazed ceramic sculpture Emerging artist. He develops his work in an encrypted, symbolic and baroque language; everything seems to come from inner worlds that implode and explode in ...

Glazed ceramic sculpture Emerging artist. He develops his work in an encrypted, symbolic and baroque language; everything seems to come from inner worlds that implode and explode in ...