OM.2024.109 - Ray Beldner - USA
About the Work
My collage works emerge from a rich tapestry of artistic heritage, woven from fragments torn from the pages of art history found in books, auction catalogs, and contemporary art magazines. Influenced by the sculptural forms of Henry Moore and Jean Arp, I am captivated by the intricate shapes and textures they embody. In my deconstructive process, I unravel their shapes, piecing together a kaleidoscope of visually discordant compositions that challenge conventional perceptions.
Unlike my previous conceptual projects, this work unfolds organically, each creation a dialogue between my intuition and the raw materials at hand. As I delve deeper into this exploration, the collages evolve from simple layered constructs to expansive assemblages and freestanding sculptures.
The seismic shifts of the 2020 pandemic transformed my work, amplifying the intensity of colors and patterns. With each piece, I revel in the joy of invention and the complexities and contradictions of visual pleasure.
Play the video to hear more about my process.
Biography
Ray Beldner is a sculptor and mixed media artist whose work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and can be found in many public and private collections including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and the Federal Reserve Board, Washington D.C., 21c Museum, Kentucky, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Oakland Museum of California, and the San Jose Museum of Art, among others.
Born in San Francisco, Beldner received a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from Mills College. He has received numerous awards and fellowships including a California Arts Council Fellowship in New Genres, a Creative Work Fund Grant from the Haas Foundations, and a Potrero Nuevo environmental art grant. He has taught sculpture, interdisciplinary studies, and professional practices at the San Francisco Art Institute, California College of the Arts, San Francisco State University, and University of California, Santa Cruz.
His work has been reviewed in publications including Art in America, Arte, Art On Paper, Artweek, Wired, Playboy, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, the Village Voice, the International Herald Tribune, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. A profile of him and his work can be found in the book: Epicenter, San Francisco Bay Area Art Now, by Chronicle Books.
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