Ariel Bullion Ecklund
Ithaca, NY
Website
www.arielecklund.com
Social Media
Instagram
How would you describe your work?
My work, whether ceramic or photographic, is emotional and deeply personal. My life experiences - as a single child, an orphan, a woman, a mother - shape my art practice.
Visually, my work is minimal, but it is rooted in concepts of absence + presence, fragility + strength and inner + outer space. My intention is to evoke a space of emotive stillness.
I tend to work with relatively simple forms which create shadows and references, allowing a space for quiet contemplation and reflection - for myself, while I am making, and for the viewer, seeing the finished piece. At times, there are moments of humor or sarcasm - usually implied by the title.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by architecture and interior spaces. Form and line. Light and shadow.
Can you speak about your process?
When working with clay, I usually begin with coils or slabs. The initial design may consist of a pre-existing idea based on a form or mold found at a thrift shop, or an object that is already in the studio. Once the clay is formed and it is in the proper stage for handling, I alter the shape. Clay is a very temperamental beast, it has needs and you cannot leave it unattended for too long. After firing, I then arrange the forms or tiles and consider if and where to add other design elements. I rarely use glaze. Sometimes I paint with underglaze, or use a glaze pencil or a cold painting technique in order to finish the surface, but more often I leave it untreated. I love the rawness and vulnerability of unglazed ceramics, and ultimately those qualities lend themselves to the meaning and translation of the work.
I am continuously taking photographs, either with my iPhone, or my Polaroid camera. I make small test prints - I will move them around, playing with placement, sometimes forming a narrative, and combine them with ceramics or other drawn elements to see what arrangement is most evocative. I will leave them for a few days or weeks, return with fresh eyes and consider the work until I am satisfied with the overall result.
Because my work is so minimal, I like to add a written element. Usually this is after the work has been completed - I feel it helps the audience understand where I am coming from and what I hope the viewer will take away from seeing the work.
How did you become interested in art?
My mother was an artist and academic, and I was introduced to art, galleries, libraries and museums at a young age. The language of art is very comfortable for me, it is what I know and understand. I am an introvert and I am pretty content on my own just making, or thinking about making.
It took me a long time to realize that the arts would be my career path. As a single parent, I went to art school and earned my BFA in Photography. A few years later, I went on to earn a Masters degree in Museum Studies - then jumped right into owning a gallery and becoming a small business owner with a brick and mortar shop.
For many years, I did not make much art at all. However, during the Covid lockdown period I was finally able to take a short break and I realized that I needed to make my own work on a consistent basis. For over a decade I put 110% of my energy into advocating and promoting other artists at my gallery - yet, while I remain committed to this mission, I now understand that my own practice is just as important.
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
Favorite artists: Sally Mann. Lenore Tawney. Agnes Martin. Nancy Spero. Louise Nevelson. Ruth Asawa. Edward Hopper. Todd Hido. Gregory Crewdson. Too many to list.
Favorite books: The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova.
Favorite quote: Never say never.
What advice do you have for younger artists?
Believe in yourself and just keep working. Go out into the world and see art, meet artists and gallery owners, expand your network.. Nothing happens in a vacuum.
