Stacia Washington

Artist Statement

Artist Statement

My sculptural practice is rooted in process, endurance, and material invention. Working without access to a studio or kiln, I developed my own clay out of ordinary kitchen ingredients, salt and flour, out of necessity. Over time, this self-made material has become central to my practice, both conceptually and technically. What initially began as a limitation has evolved into an experience of authorship, the material carrying my labor, patience, and persistence required to shape it into something uniquely cultivated. This process of living with the material, respecting or challenging its fragility, and nurturing it towards transformation has become as vital as the finished work.

I am drawn to sculpture because of its paradoxical nature, ambiguous yet overtly tangible. Unlike drawing or painting, the sculptural form already exists in space and waits to be affected. Faces and expressions are often instinctually formed, conveying early modes of recognition, identity, and presence. Through sculpted faces, I explore how identity is shaped, perceived, and remembered. Each piece invites viewers to draw their own connections, to consider who the form might be, where it comes from, and how it relates to them. Alongside figurative sculpture, I design and create three-dimensional environments that function as immersive sculptural spaces. These works are built with precision and care, replicating historically significant sites such as the Lorraine Motel and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood bedroom. These environments are acts of preservation and access, offering intimate encounters with spaces that hold cultural weight, particularly for those unable to experience them first hand.

My work is driven by curiosity and a commitment to continuous material exploration. I am interested in expanding the scale and durability of my practice while maintaining the intimacy and process-based approach that defines my current work. Access to resources through this grant would allow me to broaden my means of practice with self-authored materials, to further develop sculptural environments that engage history and memory, and build a sustained body of work that stands as a testament to perseverance as both method and meaning.