During April and May the George Adams Gallery will exhibit new sculpture by Michael Ferris Jr. The exhibition, the artist's first with the gallery, features a series of sculptures made from recycled wood that is both applied and carved, and held in place by pigmented grout. Richly textured and brightly patterned the works in the exhibition are all portraits of the artist's family and friends. Ferris' intention is to interpret the sitter's psychological state and to capture his emotional connection to his subject through a combination of crude and refined carved surfaces as well as bold patterns that recall Maori tattoos and Byzantine mosaics.
The six works in the exhibition range in scale from the 16 x 12 x 10 inch portrait head of Terrence, to the 44 x 30 x 19 inch over-life-scale bust, Rosemarie, a portrait of the artist's wife. All the works in the exhibition were completed within the past year.
Michael Ferris Jr. was born in Chicago, IL in 1969. Originally trained as a painter, he received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1991 and his MFA from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1996. He was an artist in residence at the Roswell Art Center in New Mexico, and has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council and the George Sugarman Foundation, among others.
Michael Ferris Jr: New Sculpture will remain on view through May 17th.
Checklist
1. Brian, 2008
recycled wood, pigmented acrylic grout
30 x 26 x 15 inches
MFers 10
2. Rosemarie, 2008
recycled wood, pigmented acrylic grout
44 x 30 x 19 inches
MFers 13
3. Vincent, 2008
recycled wood, pigmented acrylic grout
19 x 15 x 16 inches
MFers 9
4. Nora, 2008
recycled wood, pigmented acrylic grout
20 1/2 x 14 x 20 inches
MFers 12
5. Terence, 2008
recycled wood, pigmented acrylic grout
16 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 12 inches
MFers 8
6. Julian, 2008
recycled wood, pigmented acrylic grout
21 x 13 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches
MFers 11
