Sponsored by Page & Ben Beeler, Cindy & Steve Edgerton, Robert Harder, Lynn & John Korff, Lynwood Artists, Nancy & Henry Moore and Susan & David Morris
Jessica Bloch-Schulman creates ceramic figures with abstracted forms and dreamlike components. Her works are created in contemplation of the lasting impact of profound life experiences, such as her mother’s dementia and the isolation of a global pandemic. These pieces are psychological self-portraits rooted in themes familiar to almost everyone, including grief, anxiety, and self-doubt.
She is interested in how human memories are stored, and the neural pathways and chemical interactions that write the invisible maps of our emotional lives. The symbols and markings on her figures form a kind of legend, alluding to milestones or meaningful events that would otherwise remain concealed. These pieces invite the viewer to linger, to feel something familiar, and to consider the shapes of the stories that persist in our minds
Bloch-Schulman lives and works in Greensboro, N.C. She holds a BFA in design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She worked in digital media for more than 20 years before discovering clay in 2021.