The artwork: As a college student, Nelson Grice developed a deep passion for making clay sculpture. At the beginning, he specialized in building animal structures, but in recent years, his sculptures have evolved into observations about how animals and people are interconnected. Technically, he uses slabs of clay to create a series of design modules, which he then cuts and knits together into a structure. Using his own custom “legos,” he assembles the parts together. The result is an ironic blending of material, subject matter and animated personalities.
The artist: Alabama-based Grice focused on ceramics and painting for his BFA from the University of Montevallo. Since receiving his MEd in 1996, he has been teaching and developing his clay sculptures. His work merited a cover and the lead article as the featured artist for Ceramics Monthly Magazine in January 2007. His next interest is in creating and converting some of his clay work into large-scale bronze installations.
