New Works by Thomas Mullany: The Figure - Studies on Found Paper, Paintings, Sculpture

"Flemish School Flowers"

An exhibition of new works by Thomas Mullany opens on March 16 with an all-day open house in the r.h.ballard gallery, from 10am-6pm, at 307 Main Street in Washington, VA. The show runs through April 6. 

This exhibit is unique for Mullany in that it shows his use of a wide range of materials and methods and also his ability to spontaneously rendure the figure. Ultimately, for the viewer, this event is a surprising and in-depth look at the creative process. 

Mullany’s work spans decades, and throughout his career he has always created drawings on paper as precursors to larger murals and paintings but also as individual pieces of art. 

This exhibit consists of dozens of studies using found papers as backdrops which become part of the composition by integrating with the figure. His works using paper ephemera such as antique maps, packaging, vintage book and music pages are all utilized as part of each unique composition.  In addition, oil paintings will be displayed, with figures as subjects, as well as new figurative sculpture. 

Historically, from the beginnings of modern art, there has been a tradition in which the artist would appropriate found papers and objects and incorporate them into layered compositions.  Artists such Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Kurt Schwitters, and Robert Rauschenberg, among others, often created studies and works using this method.  Mullany often creates studies on found papers while working on larger murals and commissions. 

This particular piece "Geological Nude", was painted on a vintage U.S. Geological Survey map, detail below.

And this figurative sculpture below was carved from a single log.

Below is a painting entitled "Dunk the Girl", a favortie of mine which incorporates many figurative elements.

Mullany has exhibited over the years in Washington, DC, New York City and Washington, VA, mounting over 18 one-person exhibitions.  This is Mullany's eighth one-person exhibition r.h. ballard gallery has presented in Washington, VA.  He is included in over 21 corporate collections and has created numerous murals, sculpture and public art projects throughout the United States. 

New Works by Kelly Thiel at R.H. Ballard

Kelly Thiel is an amazing ceramic and bronze artist from North Carolina. We have carried her work for over a year now and just recently received some exciting new pieces.

Born in Georgia, Kelly lived on a small farm for the first few years of her life. With nothing much to do, she learned how to entertain herself by making mud pies in the dirt.  Her mother taught her about plants and gardening and art, while her father taught her and her brother how to ride a horse. At the age of 11, she moved to Virginia Beach and stayed in Virginia until the age of 24. Kelly went to Viriginia Tech and got a degree in Interior Design. She continued in that field until she moved to Charleston, SC in 1998.

Still interested in design, but tired of the corporate world, she decided to take a break from working and explore other options. Kelly and her mother enrolled in an introductory pottery course at the Gibbes Museum and that was when Kelly realized that clay was the perfect medium for her.

After spending the first ten years focusing on wheel-thrown and slab-built pottery, and only making sculpture on the side, Kelly changed her focus to only work on figurative sculpture.  After the death of her mother, she felt a huge creative shift in her clay, and  thus began her commitment to her sculpture.

2012 has already been a great year for Kelly - she exhibited at the American Craft Council show in Atlanta in March with her clay works, and is exhibiting a bronze sculpture at The Bascom in Highlands, NC with a group show that will run from August 18 - October 14, 2012. Here are some images of new works by Kelly now our shop & gallery.

 

 

Ceramic "Wall Nest", $150.

"Journal Birds", $75.

"Reclining FLY", $185.

 

"Wall Nest", $150.

"Secrets", $800.

 

 "Family", $350.

Close-up of "Wall Birdies", $60.

Selected Shows and Exhibitions:

"Couples", The Bascom, Highlands, NC

August-October 2012

www.thebascom.org

American Craft Council Retail Show, Atlanta, GA

March 2012

www.craftcouncil.org

"House & Home" Group Invitational

Mudfire, Decatur, GA

March-April, 2012

Jersey Shore Clay National

m.t. burton gallery

June-July, 2011

American Craft Council Retail Show, Atlanta, GA

March, 2011

www.craftcouncil.org

"Word Processing", Group Invitational for the Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC

January-March, 2011

www.cabarrusartscouncil.org

American Craft Council Retail Show, Atlanta, GA

March, 2010

www.craftcouncil.org

American Craft Council Retail Show, Charlotte, NC

October - November, 2008

www.craftcouncil.orgrd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Group Exhibition at the Katharine Butler Gallery, Sarasota, FL

April - May 2008

www.kbutlergallery.com

National Ceramics Juried Exhibition & Symposium, Juried Group Exhibition at the Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, Kansas. October - November, 2007

www.lawrenceartscenter.com

"Naked Clay" Juried Group Exhibition at the Artisan Gallery of the Woman Made Gallery. 685 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Il 60622

September - November, 2007

www.womanmade.org

Juried Artist, Seawall Art Festival, August 2007

Juried Artist, Piccolo Spoleto Fine Craft Show, May, 2007Juried Artist, Tybee Island Art Festival, October, 2006

Juried Artist, Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition, May - June, 2006

Juried Artist, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, May 2006

Juried Artist, Telfair Art Fair, November 2005

Juried Artist, Atalaya Art Festival, September 2005

Exhibting Artist, Piccolo Spoleto Craft Show, May 2005

Juried Artist, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, May 2005

Juried Artist, South Carolina State Fair Fine Art Exhibit, October 2004Juried Artist, Piccolo Spoleto Craft Show, May 28-30, 2004

Juried Artist, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, May 2004

Exhibiting Artist, South Wind Gallery, Festival of Music and Art,

Pawley's Island, September 2003

Publications:

Art Buzz, Collection 2011

The Humours of Folly, by Braden/Davis, 2009

Art Buzz, 2008 Collection

Skirt Magazine, Charleston, SC 2006wards & Recognition:

SC State Museum Traveling Exhibition Program, June 2009-May 2010

Seawall Art Festival, Fourth Place Award, August 2007

Piccolo Spoleto Fine Craft Show, Honorable Mention, May 2007

Tybee Island Festival of the Arts, Honorable Mention, October 2006

SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, Honorable Mention, May 2006

SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, Honorable Mention, May 2005

SC State Museum Traveling Exhibtion Program, June 2005-May 2006

Piccolo Spoleto Craft Show, Merit Award, May 2004

SC State Museum Traveling Exhibition Program, June 2004-May 2005

Residencies:

South Carolina State Park Artist in Residency, April 2007