Neil Clifford
"Etrius"
Edition of 18
27"H 24"W 8"D
"Drifters Bowl"
Edition of 18
4"H 11"W
"Throwing Shadows"
Edition of 12
34"H 28"W 21"D
"Untitled"
Edition of 30
27"H 24"W 7"D
"Vessel with Iris"
Edition of 18
26"H
"Jessie"
Edition of 18
13"H 23"W 17"D
803
"Loon"
Edition of 18
14"H 24"W 9"D
"Maelstrom"
Edition of 18
27"H 15"W 11"D
"Blockade
"Nuthatch Study"
4"H 5"W 4"D
"Slipstreaming"
Edition of 18
21"H 19"W 13"D
"Song Bird Vase"
Edition of 18
15"H 11"W
"Desolation Sound"
Edition of 12
8"H 30"W 19"D
"Halcyon Wing"
210
Artist Statement
My art is a celebration and exploration of my relationships with the natural
world. As a wildlife and animal sculptor, I want to choose my subjects and then
create for them a composition that has a powerful internal dynamic. I call it
the "life force" of the piece. I develop and play with this evolution
within the sculptures until there is a tension that allows the viewer to
experience the energy of the animals. For example, the Golden Retriever,
"Jessie" has been alerted by a sound at the door. The horse,
"Etrius" is standing very proud in his chest, yet counter-balanced by
the graceful rear leg. In "Maelstrom", there is an inherent tension
within the work: nature's battleground of survival. The barn owl,"Slipstreaming" defies gravity, and the great blue heron of
"Throwing
Shadows" does just that. "Desolation Sound" has a pod of killer
whales charging headlong into the opposing forces of the prevailing winds. As I
investigate and research the animals, I become sensitive to the grace of the
subjects that inevitably become my teachers during the creation process.
It is this idea of being "taught" by the animal kingdom that deepens
one of my goals as an artist; to create a dialogue about the environmental
predicament we face as stewards of the land, seas and air.
"Blockade" reminds us of our
digression from this place of honour and responsibility.
Artist Biography
Having an extensive background as both a dancer and actor, Neil Clifford has now distinguished himself in the world of wildlife and animal sculpture. He has at times been referred to as the "Bateman of Canadian Sculpture". Neil's love for sculpture developed during a performing arts scholarship in Indonesia, where he also studied mask carving with Bali's great dalang master, I Made Sija. Through Sija's teachings, he learned how traditional values underscore all artistic vision. When he returned to Canada two years later, Neil enrolled in the Sculpture/ Installation program at the Ontario College of Art. He graduated with Honours in 1994 and received three awards: Elizabeth Holbrook Award for Representational Sculpture, Louis Odette Bronze Sculpture Award and Harry Mitz Foundry Award. Today, Neil creates wildlife and figurative works that reflect the diverse paths he has traveled. He works from his studio in Toronto, Ontario, producing commissioned sculptures for private and commercial art collections.
Curriculum Vitae
Solo, Group & Juried Exhibitions
2000- Galleria Dante, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2000- Whistler Village Gallery, Whistler, British Columbia
2000- Art Mode Galleries, Calgary, Alberta
2000- Nancy Pooles Studio, Toronto, Ontario
2000 "Art in The Park", Algonquin Park, Ontario 1
1997 "Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin
1997 E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen, Colorado
1996,97 Sculpture Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario
1996 "The Nude in Art", Harrison Galleries, Vancouver, British Columbia
1996 Marten Art Gallery, Bayfield, Ontario
1995 Cygnet Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1994 Sobot Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Education
1994 Sculpture Program, Honours, Ontario College of Art, Toronto, Ontario
1990 Traditional Mask-Making Apprenticeship with I Made Sija, Bali, Indonesia
Awards
Elizabeth Brook Award for Representational Sculpture
Louis Odette Bronze Sculpture Award
Harry Mitz Foundry Award
