Larry Bamburg Work | Artist Statement & CV | Return to Artist List
You must be logged in to advance Nominee.
You must be a selection to view advance submissions.
Artist Statement
My work is an investigation into the fundamental nature of making in general and sculpture specifically. The work deals with the arbitrariness of existence through both an expanded understanding of sculptural form and a nuanced reflection on artistic process.
The diversity of form and media I work in is unified by several interconnected questions: what are the limits and possibilities of each material; what are the consequences when chance is allowed to run its course; what is the relationship between artistic intention and the internal logic of each object?
This most recent series of work is based on the possibilities available in scavenged materials, like animal bones and carcasses and branches that have been shaped by pollarding—a technique of pruning that controls the tree’s size, promotes denser new growth, and produces a large bulbous end to each branch. The unfeasible assemblages of bones are frozen inside hand-built freezer vitrines. The branches are the mutated results of the continual influence of humans, weather cycles, sun, and location on the shape of the tree. My work with these materials speaks to determining a compositional approach, and seeing the preconceived system play itself out to its natural conclusion. Held in tension are the will of the artist and the potentialities of the material. Neither fully submits to the other, and chance is given, in the end, the ultimate determination of the sculpture’s final state. In these pieces, the status of the art object that results from working under these conditions is as precarious as life.
My work is an investigation into the fundamental nature of making in general and sculpture specifically. The work deals with the arbitrariness of existence through both an expanded understanding of sculptural form and a nuanced reflection on artistic process.
The diversity of form and media I work in is unified by several interconnected questions: what are the limits and possibilities of each material; what are the consequences when chance is allowed to run its course; what is the relationship between artistic intention and the internal logic of each object?
This most recent series of work is based on the possibilities available in scavenged materials, like animal bones and carcasses and branches that have been shaped by pollarding—a technique of pruning that controls the tree’s size, promotes denser new growth, and produces a large bulbous end to each branch. The unfeasible assemblages of bones are frozen inside hand-built freezer vitrines. The branches are the mutated results of the continual influence of humans, weather cycles, sun, and location on the shape of the tree. My work with these materials speaks to determining a compositional approach, and seeing the preconceived system play itself out to its natural conclusion. Held in tension are the will of the artist and the potentialities of the material. Neither fully submits to the other, and chance is given, in the end, the ultimate determination of the sculpture’s final state. In these pieces, the status of the art object that results from working under these conditions is as precarious as life.
CV
LARRY BAMBURG
Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY
Born 1974, Houston, Texas
EDUCATION
2002 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
2000 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. MFA
1997 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. BFA
EXHIBITIONS
2012
Forthcoming group show, Hauser & Wirth, New York
2011
Forthcoming group show, GRIMM, Amsterdam, NL
Bamberg (sic.), GRIMM, Amsterdam, NL (solo)
2009
And the fair Moon rejoices, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA.
Hi, Low, and In Between, GRIMM, Amsterdam, NL, curated by Matthew Day Jackson and Simone Subal
2008
Fruit Farm Film Festival 2008, McMinnville, OR
Only Connect, Art in General at Bloomberg LP., New York, NY. Curated by Cecilia Alemani
2007
Brief Encounters, Caren Golden Fine Art, New York, NY
TBA:07, Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, OR
Stubborn Materials, Peter Blum Gallery, New York, NY
Obsessive Aesthetics, Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD.
Back East, Mandrake, Los Angeles, CA, curated by Vince Szarek
Exercises in Resourcefulness, Cuchifritos Gallery, New York, NY curated by Simone Subal
2006
Dog Daze, The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON
Open Network: Brooklyn, Ampersand International Arts, San Francisco, CA, curated by Patricia Maloney
Possibly Being, Esso Gallery, New York, NY
2005
You Are Here, Ballroom Marfa, Marfa, TX
2004
SuperSalon, Samson Projects, Boston, MA
Open Studio, Weir Farm, Wilton, CT
2003
# 21, Champion Fine Arts, Brooklyn, NY, curated by Drew Heitzler
Campsite, US Arts, University Settlement, Beacon, NY
Brewster 2003: A Site Specific Contemporary Art Event, Brewster, NY
Exit Biennial: The Reconstruction, Exit Art, New York, NY.
7 Walls, 8 Views, Arena Gallery, New York, NY
AWARDS
2007 Artist-in-Residence, PICA, Portland, OR
2004 Artist-in-Residence, Weir Farm, Wilton, CT
2003 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, Sculpture
2000 Blanche E. Coleman Award
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2011
Alessi, Andrea, “Larry Bamburg: Bamberg (sic.),” ARTslant Amsterdam, March
2008
Bovino, Emily Verla, “Only Connect,” Frieze, June
McHugh, Gene, “Making Inroads: Art in General’s Only Connect at Bloomberg Headquarters,” Rhizome at the New Museum www.rhizome.org, 9 July
2007
Hudson, Suzanne, “Stubborn Materials,” Artforum, November
Clarkson, Lamar, “Stubborn Materials,” ArtNews, October
Neil, Jonathan T.D, “Stubborn Materials,” Art Review, September
Row, David, “A Few Stray Thoughts on TBA,” The Oregonian, 7 September
“Stubborn Materials,” The New Yorker, 27 August
Smith, Roberta, “In These Shows, the Material is the Message”, The New York Times, 10 August
Maine, Stephen, “Their Dark Materials,” The New York Sun, 12 July
McNatt, Glenn, “ Four Good Shows,” The Baltimore Sun, 4 July
2006
White, Roger, “Art Seen-Possibly Being,” The Brooklyn Rail, April
2005
Bae, James, “Marfa Review- You are Here,” Ballroom, Marfa, Artlies, Fall
2003
Smith, Roberta, “Art Review, A Space Reborn, With a Show That’s Never Finished,” New York Times, 4 April
2001
Johnson, Ken, “Art Review,” New York Time, 19 October
LARRY BAMBURG
Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY
Born 1974, Houston, Texas
EDUCATION
2002 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
2000 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. MFA
1997 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. BFA
EXHIBITIONS
2012
Forthcoming group show, Hauser & Wirth, New York
2011
Forthcoming group show, GRIMM, Amsterdam, NL
Bamberg (sic.), GRIMM, Amsterdam, NL (solo)
2009
And the fair Moon rejoices, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA.
Hi, Low, and In Between, GRIMM, Amsterdam, NL, curated by Matthew Day Jackson and Simone Subal
2008
Fruit Farm Film Festival 2008, McMinnville, OR
Only Connect, Art in General at Bloomberg LP., New York, NY. Curated by Cecilia Alemani
2007
Brief Encounters, Caren Golden Fine Art, New York, NY
TBA:07, Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, OR
Stubborn Materials, Peter Blum Gallery, New York, NY
Obsessive Aesthetics, Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD.
Back East, Mandrake, Los Angeles, CA, curated by Vince Szarek
Exercises in Resourcefulness, Cuchifritos Gallery, New York, NY curated by Simone Subal
2006
Dog Daze, The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON
Open Network: Brooklyn, Ampersand International Arts, San Francisco, CA, curated by Patricia Maloney
Possibly Being, Esso Gallery, New York, NY
2005
You Are Here, Ballroom Marfa, Marfa, TX
2004
SuperSalon, Samson Projects, Boston, MA
Open Studio, Weir Farm, Wilton, CT
2003
# 21, Champion Fine Arts, Brooklyn, NY, curated by Drew Heitzler
Campsite, US Arts, University Settlement, Beacon, NY
Brewster 2003: A Site Specific Contemporary Art Event, Brewster, NY
Exit Biennial: The Reconstruction, Exit Art, New York, NY.
7 Walls, 8 Views, Arena Gallery, New York, NY
AWARDS
2007 Artist-in-Residence, PICA, Portland, OR
2004 Artist-in-Residence, Weir Farm, Wilton, CT
2003 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, Sculpture
2000 Blanche E. Coleman Award
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2011
Alessi, Andrea, “Larry Bamburg: Bamberg (sic.),” ARTslant Amsterdam, March
2008
Bovino, Emily Verla, “Only Connect,” Frieze, June
McHugh, Gene, “Making Inroads: Art in General’s Only Connect at Bloomberg Headquarters,” Rhizome at the New Museum www.rhizome.org, 9 July
2007
Hudson, Suzanne, “Stubborn Materials,” Artforum, November
Clarkson, Lamar, “Stubborn Materials,” ArtNews, October
Neil, Jonathan T.D, “Stubborn Materials,” Art Review, September
Row, David, “A Few Stray Thoughts on TBA,” The Oregonian, 7 September
“Stubborn Materials,” The New Yorker, 27 August
Smith, Roberta, “In These Shows, the Material is the Message”, The New York Times, 10 August
Maine, Stephen, “Their Dark Materials,” The New York Sun, 12 July
McNatt, Glenn, “ Four Good Shows,” The Baltimore Sun, 4 July
2006
White, Roger, “Art Seen-Possibly Being,” The Brooklyn Rail, April
2005
Bae, James, “Marfa Review- You are Here,” Ballroom, Marfa, Artlies, Fall
2003
Smith, Roberta, “Art Review, A Space Reborn, With a Show That’s Never Finished,” New York Times, 4 April
2001
Johnson, Ken, “Art Review,” New York Time, 19 October
Larry Bamburg. Bone Stack #8 Shown in Sweet Bluette, Frozen. 2011. Chest freezer, handmade insulated glass vitrine, bones, shells. 74 x 22.5 x 20.5 inches
Larry Bamburg. Bone Stack #8 Shown in Sweet Bluette, Frozen. (Detail). 2011. Chest freezer, handmade insulated glass vitrine, bones, shells. 74 x 22.5 x 20.5 inches
Larry Bamburg. Bone Stack #8 Shown in Sweet Bluette, Frozen. (Detail). 2011. Chest freezer, handmade insulated glass vitrine, bones, shells. 74 x 22.5 x 20.5 inches
Larry Bamburg. Bone Stack #5 and #6 Combined Shown in Sweet Bluette, Frozen. 2011. Chest freezer, handmade insulated glass vitrine, bones, shells. 2011. 74 x 22.5 x 20.5 inches
Larry Bamburg. Bone Stack #5 and #6 Combined Shown in Sweet Bluette, Frozen. (Detail). 2011. Chest freezer, handmade insulated glass vitrine, bones, shells. 2011. 74 x 22.5 x 20.5 inches
Larry Bamburg. Bone Stack #5 and #6 Combined Shown in Sweet Bluette, Frozen. (Detail). 2011. Chest freezer, handmade insulated glass vitrine, bones, shells. 2011. 74 x 22.5 x 20.5 inches
Larry Bamburg. Bone Stack #11. Turkey to Chicken to Rock Cornish Game Hen Shown in Mint Fizz, Tent-Poled. 2011. Poultry bones, elastic cord, glass, resin, tape, acrylic paint. 60.5 x 10.25 x 5.5 inches
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Substrate. 2011. Wood, log, shelf paper, vinyl flooring, fans, wire, screwdrivers. 109.5 x 178.5 x 113 inches
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Substrate. (Detail). 2011. Wood, log, shelf paper, vinyl flooring, fans, wire, screwdrivers. 109.5 x 178.5 x 113 inches
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Substrate. (Detail). 2011. Wood, log, shelf paper, vinyl flooring, fans, wire, screwdrivers. 109.5 x 178.5 x 113 inches
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Outer Layer. 2011. Concrete, moss-covered bark, tempered glass, plaster tiles, grow lights, misting system, fans, steel tubing, wood, screw drivers. 70 x 112 x 82 inches.
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Outer Layer. (Detail). 2011. Concrete, moss-covered bark, tempered glass, plaster tiles, grow lights, misting system, fans, steel tubing, wood, screw drivers. 70 x 112 x 82 inches.
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Outer Layer. (Detail). 2011. Concrete, moss-covered bark, tempered glass, plaster tiles, grow lights, misting system, fans, steel tubing, wood, screw drivers. 70 x 112 x 82 inches.
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Projections. 2011. Photographs, plastic, push-pins, wood, plaster. 78 x 78 x 11 inches
Larry Bamburg. Committing to the Idea that This Thing is Important. Projections. (Detail). 2011. Photographs, plastic, push-pins, wood, plaster. 78 x 78 x 11 inches
Larry Bamburg. Working with Kids, Working with Animals. Thin-Legged. 2011. Tree branch, stainless steel, skateboard wheels, rubber nose, screw drivers, string, shelf paper. 44 x 71 x 46.5
Larry Bamburg. Working with Kids, Working with Animals. Fresh Dead. (Video stills). 2011. HD video with sound and color.
Larry Bamburg. Working with Kids, Working with Animals. Live. (Video stills). 2011. HD video with sound and color.
Larry Bamburg. Working with Kids, Working with Animals. Fresh Dead. (Video stills). 2011. HD video with sound and color.
Larry Bamburg. Working with Kids, Working with Animals. Batman. 2011. C-print on aluminum. 26.5 x 30.5 inches