Arctic 1998

Kenneth Price, an artist who blurred the lines between sculpture and ceramics, left us "Arctic," a work that defies easy categorization. Price came of age as an artist in Los Angeles in the 1960s, a time of great social upheaval and artistic experimentation. His work challenged the traditional art world's hierarchies which separated craft from fine art. His works can be read as a rejection of the rigid formalism of the time, embracing instead the organic and sensual. "Arctic" is a biomorphic abstraction in glazed ceramic with a textured, pale exterior and a dark, luscious interior. What are we to make of this contrast? Is it about the hidden depths within us all? Or the tension between our public and private selves? The sculpture eschews traditional narratives. Price invites us into a world of ambiguity and open-ended interpretation. The sculpture is a powerful statement about the fluidity of identity and the beauty of imperfection. It pushes us to reconsider our relationships to our bodies, our desires, and our environments.