Mike Keene
Ceramic Sculpture
I was born in 1950 in Montevideo, Uruguay in South America and lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil until the age of 5 before moving with my family to Dallas, Texas.
In these early years the traditions, images, and icons of New World art and architecture surrounded me. I became fascinated with the rich tapestry of colors and the details of the narrative sculpture. These images inspired my studies in graphic design toward a BFA at the University of Texas in 1972 and an MA earned in Visual Art from the University of Northern Colorado in 2002.
In my various art careers I have worked as a graphic artist, photographer, jewelry designer, and high school art teacher, but it was not until 2003 that I began my explorations in clay sculpture.
Currently, my art works are unique hand built clay sculptures. I remain fascinated with rich textured surfaces and a bright color pallet. I impress the clay with my original carved stamps and roller tools. I repeat, overlay and group them together, conveying a narrative on the objects they impress. The finished works are then fired with a combination of medium and low fire glazes ranging from cone 6 to cone 04-05 to enhance the surface textures and graphics of the objects.
Currently, my art works are unique hand built clay sculptures. I remain fascinated with rich textured surfaces and a bright color pallet. I impress the clay with my original carved stamps and roller tools. I repeat, overlay and group them together, conveying a narrative on the objects they impress. The finished works are then fired with a combination of medium and low fire glazes ranging from cone 6 to cone 04-05 to enhance the surface textures and graphics of the objects.
