linda wren

Virginia clay artist Linda Wren enjoys capturing moments in time and unique expressions, such as the gasp of surprise or the sheer joy of laughter.

Artist: The Virginia native grew up in Richmond and received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, studying both industrial and graphic design. After college, she spent 40-plus years in advertising, creating campaigns for large companies.

Company/studio: Linda Wren Ceramics, based in Richmond, started in 2020. The artist’s clay studio is upstairs in her house in what used to be the kids’ playroom.

In the beginning: It was not until the seclusion of Covid, that she started figurative sculpture. Wren had previously taken occasional ceramic classes at the Visual Arts Center in Richmond and made functional pieces.

When the studio closed for Covid, Wren still wanted to work in clay, but didn’t have access to a wheel so she started hand building the figures at home.

“Sculpting rekindled my passion for art,” said Wren. “And I have not looked back.”

Art & materials: Paperclay, fire to bisque, and acrylics to add color and pattern. Occasionally, adds other materials, including phone cords, earrings, wood and wire, to achieve the desired result.

Popular: Her “women with attitude” sculptures ($2,200 to $4,600), though she likes to create different expressions, different nationalities and ages, young and old.

The national shows, however, prefer her sculpts with a more contemplative expression, she said.

Inspiration: Inspiration comes from anywhere and literally anything, but it starts with a germ of an idea, perhaps a new expression to create.

“Just a slight tilt of the head or the glance of an eye, or an upturned lip can create a whole mood,” she said.

Beauty in the way folds in fabric create visual movement or in the multitude of colors in bark on a tree,
The organic shape of a floppy beach hat brim.
By no intention, seems to gravitate to women of the 1950s, including the timeless elegance, the color patterns and the optimism.

Favorite tools: Many, including:

Her Shimpo banding wheel, so she can easily turn the sculpture to view it from every angle.
Calipers to measure distances.
Everyday items to make textures.

Fun or special projects:

“A favorite customer bought one piece, then found out I also had created two monkeys, a Macaque and a colorful Mandrill, and had to have those as well,” said Wren. “She added my work to her extensive ‘monkey collection.’”

Recent awards/honors: A surprise honor was to be featured in Cigar Magazine, Israel edition, alongside internationally known sculptors, who are “breathing new life into sculpture medium.”

Recent project: A sculpt of an Indian woman (pictured right at bottom). The folds in the headscarf create movement and frame her face, said Wren.

What’s next: American Craft Council show in Baltimore in March 15-17 and ACC online shows that occur quarterly.

Where to buy: LWrenCeramics.com and juried shows.

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