Magi Calhoun

Romanian born surrealist artist, working primarily in clay and mixed media.

Magi Calhoun - Artist's Statement

My work deals with the inner world of emotions and dreams. I like to tell stories with clay--stories with universal symbols that elicit different responses in different viewers, depending on their own sensibilities, emotions and past experiences. The virtually edgeless quality of clay forms, unconstrained by preexisting boundaries, fascinates me. It allows me to create my clay narratives free-form. With clay, an edge is not automatically predefined, as with a canvas, which has inherent limitations on conventional preexisting shapes. Clay allows me to play with the tension between two-dimensional and three-dimensional boundaries of both mediums, blur the interfaces, and create narratives that flow from one to the other. In this way, I can push the limits of what I do with the clay. Recently I am adding a few other elements like cast metal, wax and wood or found objects to keep the creative process fresh and exciting and to constantly challenge to myself in the studio. There is never a dull moment.

2012 MFA (Master of Fine Arts), University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
2002 BFA in Ceramics, magna cum laude (minor in Chemistry), Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas
RESIDENCIES: 2009 Kiln God Juried Residency, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, Maine