Nickie Gunning is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Michigan. They have shown throughout The United States, including the Cranbrook Art Museum, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and Springfield Art Museum. Their work has appeared in news articles including The Washington Post and GW Today. They are best known for their ceramic and found object sculptures that speak about the complexities of gender identity.
They hold an M.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy of art and a B.F.A. from Corcoran School of Art + Design, where they received awards, including the Ceramic Rookie of the Year Award in 2014 and the Ceramic A.R.T (Ambitious Risk Taking) Award in 2015. Currently they make art from their studio located in Metro Detroit. Artist Statement
My practice plays to process abjection, a collection of gestural forms inspired by my own body’s movement, wandering through and exploring my environment. By mixing found and personal objects into my ceramic practice, I build assemblages that address my identity.
The art shows my personal emotions and gestures without the presence of the physical body. The clay is thrown at the wall and set aside to dry. It can take up to 2 months for the clay to dry completely. During that time, I explore my surroundings to find art objects to portray attributes of my gender. Objects such as clothing, jewelry cases, plastic mesh, torn tarps, and blown tires. These items give me a clue into the underlying fluidity of my gender reflected in the moment of discovery. To complete my gender affirmation these constituents will later be paired with the ceramic component. These are self portraits of my gender. |
Resume and CV can be viewed upon request. Commissions are open. |