ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Emma Benschop: is a graduate of the Studio Art program of New York University. Since then, she has relocated to Denver in pursuit of her own studio practice, founding a functional ceramics studio called Love, Emma Ceramics. Emma also runs the art program of local coffee shop, Metropolis Coffee. Shown here, her sculptural works touch on themes of memory, transition, and placelessness.
Mae Phillips: graduated from Colorado State University in 2013 with a BFA in Pottery. Following graduation, Mae relocated to Denver in pursuit of work as a Doula and Floral Designer; meanwhile, teaching recreational pottery classes kept her hands busy in clay. In 2018, Mae moved to a live/work space in Park County, CO where she fabricates her own line of ceramic home goods known as Placeholder Brand. Her work consistently draws on the tactile and emotional nature of her careers in floral design and birth work to create pieces that evoke a narrative of delicacy, resilience, and inquisitiveness.
Curated by a series of floral arrangements and theatrical compositions, the breadth of ceramic works provides an internal contrast of subject matter. One light, the other dark. This is also true for memories and nightmares. While Mae’s work is light, delicate and whimsical, Emma’s work has a more robust eire and mysterious quality leaving the viewer in a trance or state of limbo. Pulling from memories of childhood, Benschop brings theatre and narrative to her works through these sharing tangible moments of a past that hit close to home. From tooth fairy horrors to a dream house containing a series of distant memories, the work is playful yet tangible.
“EMMA BENSCHOP AND MAE PHILLIPS MIX REALITY WITH FANTASY AT DOUBLESPACE.” – KEENAN MEHRENS
Meanwhile, Phillip’s vignettes touch on a secret past from a romantic period in history. Flickering between life and death, these floral arrangements soften the rough edges of each composition and provide a feeling of tranquility. Once the flame goes out however, darkness takes over and the mind begins to fall into a transcendental dream-state, left to wander and wonder through the delicate fabric of this reality and make believe. It is here where the narrative lies faintly; beauty and a whisper of the past remains but remnants to a memory left to wilt and fade forevermore.
If you like the works from this exhibition be sure to check out the artists instagram accounts @kilninit and @emmabensch0p and check out what they are up to. For more information, stay tuned for August’s pop up exhibition preview and be sure to check out one of our opening receptions on the Final Friday of each month through November. Click Here to see exhibition photos.
STAY TUNED FOR AUGUST’S UPCOMING POP UP EXHIBITION PREVIEW AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ONE OF OUR OPENING RECEPTIONS ON THE FINAL FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH NOVEMBER.
for additional information please contact info@dblspc.com
Photos by Matthew Pevear and Doublespace