Ceramics
Ana’s work in ceramics began when she was a child, but her practice went on hiatus after emigrating from Venezuela to Puerto Rico at age 16. After decades of dormancy, she returned to clay in 2022 by enrolling in ceramic courses at Mendocino College. The memory of working with clay and its potential for expression was exhilarating. Seeking to avoid siloing her skills, Ana began exploring ways to integrate her design, typography, and ceramic practices.
In the last two years, Ana has focused on trompe-l’œil representations of everyday, ephemeral objects used in office environments and by makers in their processes. Sheets of paper, notepads, notebooks, pencils, the ‘easily discarded’ and otherwise ‘impermanent’ workhorses are remembered, honored, and given a new life through clay. The sculptures are both simple and sensitive; they emphasize the pliability and lightness of paper and make the functional and disposable lyrical. The sculptures are often blank and open-ended, and sometimes typography is used as a storytelling tool.
Additionally, Ana loves to experiment and learn new skills. She has been slip casting with both pre-made and custom-made plaster molds, she is sculpting other types of larger objects, and is experimenting with creating clay with integral color.