JOEL OTTERSON
September 8 through October 18
For the past 3 decades, Joel Otterson has made
sculpture, which combines aspects of domestic handicraft with traditional
sculptural materials. Copper pipe, woodworking,
pottery, porcelain, china, earthenware,
concrete, marble, stained glass, quilting and lacemaking are the raw
materials of Joel’s sculpture. Utilizing
practices such as sewing, and quilting, traditionally associated with feminine
craft making, Joel turns these humble materials into muscular art. The artist blurs the line between high
and low culture, art and craft to create poignant sculptures, which are both
utilitarian and de-constructivist sculptural objects. Through this endeavor, exploring Rock N Roll,
Baseball, and what it means to be an American.
Otterson, who was born in Los Angeles in 1959, spent most
of his childhood in Oregon, attended Parsons School of Design in New York City,
where he remained for two decades. Joel
was one of the youngest artists ever selected for a one-person exhibition in
the Projects Room of the Museum of Modern Art, New York (1987). The artist’s work is included in the
permanent collections of Cincinnati Art Museum, The Broad Foundation, The
Israel Museum and many others.
Joel Otterson’s work was included in the 1993 Venice
Biennale and will be included in “Made in L.A” the first California Biennial to
be held at the Hammer Museum, summer 2012.
The artist lives and works in Los Angeles.
Installation: HAMMER MUSEUM: "MADE IN LA" Summer 2012
