opening reception: friday, october 30th from 5-7pm.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My sculptures are a conglomeration of contrasting elements that straddle the space between representation and abstraction. Dominant features of color, form, and material push against one another, allowing disparate materials to come together as hybridized forms.
Inspired by and referential to the natural world, my work blurs the line between nature and my own reimagining of it. I craft these pieces using a wide variety of media—including clay, plaster, and wood—to explore the inherent properties and unexpected potential of combined materials. There is a palpable spontaneity inherent in these works.
Drawing is an integral part of my studio practice, allowing me to process complex ideas surrounding form and color. It serves as my way of thinking out loud—a means to explore the potential of a sculpture as it progresses over time and space.
The small sculptures titles “Some Thing” is an on going series.Initially conceived as preparation for larger projects, these works have evolved into a distinct and independent practice.The works are presented on wall-mounted shelves, where
The small sculptures titled "Some Thing" are part of an ongoing series. Initially conceived as preparation for larger projects, these works have evolved into a distinct and independent practice.The works are presented on wall-mounted shelves, where the shelf color echoes the sculpture itself.
BIO
Roberley Bell is inspired by nature and time. Her practice draws on the world around her, particularly through the scrutiny of nature and the built environment. Bell has had numerous residencies, including the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, the Stadt Künstlerhaus in Salzburg, the International Studio Program in NYC, Sculpture Space in Utica, and most recently at the Ellis Beauregard Foundation Rockland, ME.
Bell’s work has been exhibited internationally, including exhibitions in New York, Chicago, Boston, Malmö, Istanbul, and Toronto. She has completed public projects in Istanbul, Kaliningrad, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cambridge, Cleveland, and Fitchburg. Additionally, she has participated in several art fairs, including Spring/Break, Art Miami, Scope New York, and Contemporary Istanbul.
Bell is the recipient of numerous fellowships, including awards from the New England Foundation for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, a Pollock-Krasner Fellowship, and a Senior Scholar Fulbright to Turkey. As a Fulbright Specialist, Bell has conducted walking workshops internationally in locations such as Sharjah, Istanbul, and Malmö.
Bell lives in Pelham and maintains a studio in the historic canal city of Holyoke.