Bronwen Weber

Artist Statement

After more than 30 years, I switched mediums. My baking career began at the age of 14, and my childhood hobby became my profession. My passion for sculpting steered me to clay and I went from pastry chef and cake sculptor to clay animal sculptor. Mud cakes to cakes, and now back to mud all just in time for my 50th year.

Clay was a natural transition. My favorite groggy black clay feels comfortable and familiar like short buttery dough. Construction constrictions of temperature, humidity, and time are not stage center when sculpting stoneware like they were in sugar or chocolate. Clay won’t spoil, clay won’t melt, and errant dog hair is a temporary charm easily fired away. Familiar in my hands, but instead of moments of enjoyment, my sculptures now can last decades, something that still exhilarates me in my new endeavor.

Textures appeal to me. I like the challenge of making something so hard and cold look fluffy and warm, slimy and sleek, or sharp and prickly. Color has an important role, too. I am drawn to and inspired by the earthy rainbow of stone, metal, marble, and wood.

Animals are our common denominator. I find sculpting them powerful. I can celebrate vermin, make princes of pests, add softness to the scary, even assign personalities to amphibians. It is my intention and my hope to create vague likenesses of animals that honor even the lowliest.

So please, feast your eyes.