Kenny Delio
Artist's Bio
Kenny Delio is currently working on his MFA at the University of Delaware, and he received his BFA from the University of the Arts in Crafts-Ceramics. He received a NJ State Arts Fellowship this year and is a professional potter at Silverman Ceramics in Philadelphia. He has exhibited his work at the ACC Baltimore Show, M.T. Burton Gallery, Crafts National at the Lancaster Art Museum among others. His current work is functional although taken from the world of fantasies.
Artist's Statement
My current body of work is inspired by the images and dreams shaped in the subconsious mind. From my imagination, I create forms that are taken from the world of make believe and fantasies. I deliberately throw loosely and off center. This gives the work anthropomorphic qualities which imbue each piece its own destinct personality. I apply glaze like a skin. I choose matte glazes that look soft and supple, shiny surfaces that appear wet and viseral, and multihued textures that mimic scales and fur. These coatings are meant to entice, I want there to be a persistant desire to touch and interact with the work.
While I want my work to appear alive, it is also important that everything I create has a function. This allows viewers not only to look at my work but to use it as well. If I am designing a teapot or a cup, the flowing organic handles need to feel good in one's hand. The inflated volume of the forms must comfortably contain the liquid inside, feel soft against the lip and poor smoothly and effortlessly. If I am constructing a table or shelf it needs to crawl along the wall and actually support the objects that I place on the loftiest point. Ultimately, all of the pieces need to fit together and in the end, everything must be intentional.
