Brenda McMahon

I form soft earth into undulating, voluminous tile murals in the quiet of my rural studio. As I put my hands on the pliable clay I envision landscapes and figurative expressions; I pull, stretch and alter the stoneware murals, filling them with energy, color and dialogue. The end result is a durable, timeless ceramic tile murals.

My sculptural wall murals are inspired by a trip to Thailand in 2007. I was awarded a grant from the New York State Foundation for the Arts, which offered me the opportunity to explore a new body of work during my 6-week visit in Southeast Asia. My jumping off point was the incredible Textures of Thailand, from the way they thatch their roofs, terrace their gardens & present their food – texture was everywhere and it was an inspiration.

My “figurative expressions” are rooted in drawings I have been doing for more than 17-years blending the past movement of my own hand with the textures of my Thailand inspiration.