A Presentation of New Work by Queens-based Visual Artist Andrew Cornell Robinson Queens, NY — Join us for an exclusive presentation of Andrew Cornell Robinson’s latest project, Confabulations + Fantabulosas, an exploration of contemporary portrait abstractions on ceramic and metal. The event will feature a selection of new works and a live demonstration showcasing printed transfer techniques and smoke-fired reduction methods employed by the artist.
Event Details:
- Date: October 21, 2023
- Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Location: Bloom York City, a Garden in NYC
- Address: 18-66 Troutman Street, Garden Entrance, Ridgewood (Queens), New York, 11385
- RSVP: Please RSVP; attendance is limited, but the event is free
Andrew Cornell Robinson will present a captivating selection of fragmented figural abstractions. Titled Confabulations + Fantabulosas, this body of work is crafted through a unique process involving custom silkscreen printed underglaze decal transfers of portraits on smoke-fired ceramic substrates. The printed imagery is thoughtfully layered with painterly abstractions using glazes, enamels, and colored slips on both clay and metal. These assemblages, originating from research into revisionist histories, manifest as queer and peculiar abstracted portraits.
The fragmented figural Confabulations + Fantabulosas are embodied in smoke-fired ceramic portraits and prints on metal and paper. Beginning with a revisionist history, they culminate in abstracted portraits that echo the essence of a hidden identity.
There will also be an open studio available by appointment between October 22 to 28th showcasing additional works from this series located in the neighborhood at the Arts + Crafts Research Studio 117 Grattan Street Suite 309, Brooklyn, New York, 11237
To request a studio visit email info@acrstudio.com
About the Artist
Andrew Cornell Robinson is a Queens-based visual artist whose work over the last decade has focused on layered imagery and the histories of cultural erasure, particularly as they relate to the queer community. He works in ceramic, painting and printmaking. He began his work as an artist in an apprenticeship in an Anglo-Japanese pottery where he first learned the art of Raku fired tea bowls, and their repair with gold known as Kintsugi. He went on to study ceramics and sculpture at the Glasgow School of Art and the Maryland Institute College of Art where he received a BFA in ceramics. He moved to New York City where he studied painting at the School of Visual Arts receiving an MFA in Painting. More
Through Confabulations + Fantabulosas, Robinson explores how to visually represent visibility, celebrating and surrendering to various aspects of life, including joy, absence, pleasure, loss, and reverence.
A note about language
The term “confabulate” signifies the act of imagining experiences to fill gaps in one’s history, while “fantabulosa” celebrates the fantastic and fabulous, reflecting the resilience and creativity of the LGBTQ+ community. The layered images in this series represent an endless cycle of erasure and revelation, magnified by the unique qualities of smoke-fired clay and crushed metal substrates. Printed portraits of queer and peculiar characters emerge from this process, challenging cultural erasure and embodying personal narratives. The creation of this project has been made possible through the generous support of the Queens Arts Fund and Guttenberg Arts, both of which have supported Robinson’s creative research. The Queens Arts Fund: New Work Grant has played a pivotal role in allowing Robinson to expand upon these ideas, making them the focal point of his upcoming body of work. This support has enabled deeper research into the histories and symbols used in his art, resulting in new configurations of images and forms that unlock further layers of meaning.
About Bloom York City
A private garden in Ridgewood Queens in New York City. Design and curated by designer Sigfrido Holguin the garden has played host to performing and visual arts events including artist demonstrations, arts educational workshops, as well as musical performances and poetry readings.
About Guttenberg Arts
Guttenberg Arts is a non-profit printmaking, ceramics and interdisciplinary community arts organization dedicated to supporting artists through residencies, workshops and public programs in the creation and presentation of new work. Guttenberg Arts fosters a community of artists and provides the necessary resources for them to excel in their craft. Andrew Cornell Robinson was a resident artist at Guttenberg Arts where he developed a new method for creating decal transfer prints on paper and porcelain.
About the Queens Arts Fund
The Queens Arts Fund supports individual artists and organizations working to enhance the cultural life of the borough of Queens, New York. By providing grants and resources, the fund enables artists like Andrew Cornell Robinson to develop and showcase their creative endeavors.
This project is made possible in part with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.