Christina West

1980 Born

EDUCATION

2002Study Abroad, Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence, Italy

2003BFA Siena Heights University, Adrian, Michigan

2003-2004Post-Baccalaureate Studies, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

2006MFA New York State College of Ceramic Arts, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

RESIDENCIES

2006Artist in Residence, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana

2008Artist in Residence, Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, Buffalo, New York

2010Artist in Residence, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, Nebraska

2011Guest Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2013Artist in Residence, The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

2007-2009Visiting Lecturer, Ceramics, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

2009-2015Assistant Professor of Art, Three Dimensional Studies, Ceramics, The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia

2015—Associate Professor of Art, Three Dimensional Studies, Ceramics, The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia

Christina West is known for hollow-constructed hand-built and slip-cast life-size figurative sculpture and installation art.

West uses ceramic slip, non-ceramic materials including resin for slip-cast work and prior to 2017 United States Gypsum Ultracal® 30 Gypsum Cement, and from 2017 onward Hydrocal® Brand FGR 95 Gypsum Cement.  Signature forms include the life-size human figure, and attenuated portrait busts juxtaposed with everyday household items.

Installations may employ scale shifting to alter the narrative of figures with selective interior objects, picture frames, Venetian blinds, and chairs may be incorporated. As of 2018, figures are white sometimes with one vibrant color used with restraint on the human forms. Earlier installations from 2008-2013 use blue, pink, or yellow figures. Approach to color is consistent with each installation. In addition to ceramic materials, West occasionally uses other material to augment her figures: namely wood, cloth, and other props.

West is known to change the formal portrait busts by replacing the face with an inlay of concentric irregular colored ovals or stripes in the otherwise white table-top scale conventional head and shoulder sculpture. West is interested in the history of the portrait bust, and how the art form has been used to develop a sense of the humanity of the person portrayed.