Walter O'Neill

In the humid and hot sub-tropical environment of South Florida, my studio becomes a haven where the earthy slabs of wet clay are transformed into evocative sculptures that bridge the tangible and the ethereal. My work is deeply inspired by the fecundity of nature, the grandeur of Italian Baroque sculpture, and the profound layers of sensuality that permeate the human experience.

The essence of my artistic journey lies in exploring the myriad dualities that define our existence: the interplay of clay and form, interior and exterior, line and shape, wet and dry, malleable and hard, open and closed, male and female, death and regeneration, pain and joy. Each sculpture is a dialogue between these contrasts, inviting viewers to delve into the complexities and beauty of the natural world and human emotion.

My recent explorations in wall sculptures and candelabras are imbued with references to memorial, commemorative, and votive sconces, as well as ecclesiastical and other decorative art forms. These works weave together suggestive shapes that add a layer of ambiguity, provoking thought and introspection. The intertwining of forms reminiscent of body organs with the lush vitality of nature evokes a slightly unsettling yet compelling narrative.

I studied at the School of Visual Arts and Hunter College and have attended several residencies including Pentaculum at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Watershed Center for Ceramics, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. In 2013 I moved to South Florida to be the Director of the Boca Raton Museum Art School.