Robb McKenzie
Most my life I had been working in two dimensions; painting on canvas or other flat objects. It wasn't that long ago when I rediscovered working with clay and abandoned my painting for dirty hands. The only time I had previously worked with clay was in college; Ceramics 101. I remember how much I enjoyed making in things three dimensions and decorating them with imprints from found objects, but the class ended as did college and life moved on. One Christmas, my wife bought me a potter's wheel and my art career changed directions as quickly as the wheel head could spin.
While making my first clay objects in years, I found myself wanting to make the clay appear like metal objects and started adding screws and rivets and my works took on a Steampunk appearance. I have always enjoyed things Steampunk and found making objects out of clay that didn't quite look like clay quite enjoyable. I have since found screws a bit limiting and felt like I was in a box, so Steampunk Pottery turned into McKenzie Clayworks. While not totally abandoning my Steampunk roots, I've taken new paths, opening more avenues of exploration and creativity. One path, based on my Scottish roots, I’m discovering the art and designs of the Celts and Picts, and most recently the Beaker People and their detailed bell shaped pots; all along trying to translate their culture onto my ceramics. I have also found flowers and abstract patterns, things of whimsy simply fun to make. I have also found bats are fun to make, not the baseball kind, but the Mexican Free Tail kind. Austin Texas is the home fo the largest free tail bat colony in the world, so why not bats? While this assortment of styles isn’t helping build my “body of work” most artists strive for, I am enjoying what I do and that is what is really important in life. Robb McKenzie |
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Exhibits/Markets: 2023 - Austin Celtic Festival 2022 - Round Rock Chalk Walk 2023 - Sunset Valley Artfest 2022 - Austin Celtic Festival 2022 - Round Rock Chalk Walk 2022 - Sunset Valley Artfest 2021 - East Austin Handmade Artists Yule Bazaar 2021 - Inspired Minds Art Center, Buda 2020-Everything closed for COVID 2019 - Austin Celtic Festival 2019 - Carver Library 2019 - Jester Annex, Round Rock 2019 - The Hive at Bee cave 2019 - Sunset Valley Artfest 2019 - Link and Pin 2019 - Santa Cruz Gallery 2018 - Vets Art Show 2018 - Bandit Salon 2018 - Austin Celtic Festival 2018 - Texas Clay Arts Association 'Six Pack' Show, San Angelo TX 2018 - Sunset Valley Art Festival 2017 - East Austin Handmade Artists Yule Bazaar 2017 - Jerry's Artarama Employee Show 2017 - Austin Celtic Festival 2017 - Build Hope, Not Walls 2017 - RAD Collective Alcohol Show 2017 - TCAA, Rockport Art Center, Rockport TX 2017 - Old Bakery Consignee Show 2017 - Hive Mind, RAD Collective 2017 - Sunset Valley Artfest, Sunset Valley TX 2016 - Pflugerville Public Library, Pflugerville TX 2016 - Hops & Grain 2016 - RAD Collective @ The Parlor 2016 - Sunset Valley Artfest, Sunset Valley TX 2016 - Texas Clay Arts Association 'Six Pack' Show, San Angelo TX 2016 - Marketplace Art Gallery - Guest Artist 2016 - Riverbend Inspirational Gallery 2015 - Bass Concert Hall 2015 - Pflugerville Public Library, Pflugerville TX 2015 - Fruit & Veggie Art Show ~ Counter Culture 2014 - Georgetown Art Center 5x7 Show EAST 2014 - Forest Hills Gallery 2014 - Breckenridge Fine Arts Center, Breckenridge TX 2013 - The Lowry Arts Centre, Salford Quays, UK Previously Supported Non-Profits: ACC Boots & Bats Austin Empty Bowl Project Build Hope, Not Walls Project HOPE Outdoor Gallery Wimberly Empty Bowl Project |
Juried Shows: 2022 - CAS Show Texas State, Round Rock 2018 - 11th International Teapot Tournament, Houston 2017 - AVAA Veteran's Exhibit 2017 - Link & Pin Gallery 'Grand Petite' Show 2017 - [imagine] Round Rock Arts 2016 - Art Gallery at the Old Bakery & Emporium 2015 - Austin Visual Artists Association Fall Show 2015 - CAS Show at the Dougherty Arts Center 2015 - 154 Square Inch Show, Link & Pin 2014 - Art Gallery at the Old Bakery & Emporium 2014 - Art Hop (four works), Georgetown Texas 2013 - Austin Visual Artists Association Members 2013 - Austin Visual Artists Association Fall Show 2012 - Art Hop, Georgetown Texas Memberships: Texas Clay Arts Association Greater Austin Clay Artists Creative Arts Society (Vice President) Austin RAD Collective Austin Artist Network Where to Buy: Old Bakery & Emporium 1006 Congress Ave, Austin Jerry's Artarama Employees Art Space & Jerry's Art Market 6010 N IH 35, Austin Artisans Connect Gallery 800 S Austin Ave #105 Georgetown, TX 78626 Austin Gift Company 4211 S Lamar Blvd A19 Austin, TX 78704 |
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