FROM THE ARTIST
Instinctively tactile and sentimental, with an ongoing fascination with nature, I can still be found "rooting around" on the ground, gathering "precious finds" as I go.
CREATIVE PROCESS
Places explored, the people encountered, the beauty of precious finds and the purity of raw, natural materials all play a part in the artworks I create.
From the many contributing facets of my life and travels abroad - from gathering the finest global materials, while immersing myself in the local people & culture - my project planning comes together. With my plan in mind, the hands-on creating begins.
Creating my mixed media sculptures feeds my love for working with many different art mediums and allows me to use the different techniques I have learned and taught over the years.
All of the materials I use add, compliment and speak to each other, creating one unified, beautiful creation - growing together - making a statement together.
Staying pure with my materials is important in creating my art - staying true to oneself, to nature, to the countries I have collected in and been inspired in - resulting in the organic growth that shines through in each finished piece - showcasing natural beauty.
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Each sculpture is signed, stamped and labeled with the country of origin - to always be remembered & cherished.
Contact for an additional certificate of authentication.
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FIBER
My fiber sculptures feature a woven coil technique, historically used to weave vessels.
Stitch by stitch, coil by coil, with hand & needle, I weave my international pure wools around cotton - raw / refined, scratchy / smooth, no synthetics - unifying global natural beauty.
CLAY
I hand build my clay structures out of stoneware and fire in my studio kiln. Each creation is then painted with a unique glaze combination, mixed & varied, creating a one of a kind result upon the second firing.
WOOD
The wood structures, I build out of solid wood - cutting, hammering, nailing and sanding.
PAINTING & DRAWING
I use different types of paint, graphite, charcoal, inks and other 2-D art materials to give character to the structures that I build, giving them depth, in preparation to unite with fiber.
METAL
Metal additions are metal-smithed sheets and wires that I cut, heat, hammer, drill, file, stamp, connect and polish, to best contrast with the soft to scratchy fibers that will accompany it.
PRECIOUS FINDS
Then there are the found objects that I just could not pass up as I wander, which are incorporated into my sculptures, woven in, set with clay, wood or metal, like a gem set into jewelry.
All content and images are property of Kristin Kleyer Mangum - KKARTISTA ARTWORKS LLC and may not be used without permission.