Maia Williamson

Artist Statement

My first foray into the world of classical sculpture was at the age of 18 when I made a small portrait of my younger sister. I am now in my third year studying figurative sculpture at Grand Central Atelier in New York. Through my time at GCA, my studies have centered around working from life in the classical tradition. My focus is on creating narrative sculptures. In my three years of intense study, I still find myself drawn to the portrait. With every portrait I sculpt, I investigate what differentiates a copy of someone's face with a portrait that tells a story. I try to capture that fleeting moment when the expression of a person, almost imperceptible, can tell their story. From portraits to multi-figure compositions. I aim to tell a story that draws the viewer in, to enable them to see both the subject and themselves reflected in my sculptures. I want my work to be a mirror for people to connect my work to their own experience.

My aspiration after school is to work in the field of public commission sculpture. I hope to follow in the footsteps of the sculptors before me who endeavored to bring powerful figurative sculpture into the world. Public figurative sculpture is uniquely positioned to uplift a community with a beautiful work of art, and to use narrative to encourage artistic dialogue within that community. I plan to make work that can leverage both of these aspects of public sculpture to leave a lasting impression on the people and spirit of a community.