I grew up on a family farm in Rock Hill, SC and completed my BFA at Winthrop University and an MFA from Clemson University. Since the completion of my MFA I have operated studios in New Orleans, LA; Washington, DC; and I currently live and work in Eugene, OR.
I create objects that elicit inquiry. These objects entitled POPJCT’s reference functional forms embody material contradictions, and pair incompatible forms that manifest in harmonious and revealing interactions. POPJCT’s are haptic experiences created to queer the everyday and to celebrate the mundane. POPJCT’s are primarily composed of midrange porcelain, glaze, resin, mason stain, epoxy, glitter, and found objects/textiles.
In developing this body of work, I found that I could create objects that solicit tactile interaction and satisfy physical touch, and at the same time elicit questioning and engender uncertainty. These experiences are contingent upon interaction between the object and the individual: they reject norms of instantaneous consumption and immediate disposability, and expect contemplation and connectivity. They make use of the everyday—shapes that are familiar and register as practical—while undermining that comfort with inflected forms, unexpected surfaces, and insecure grasps. As the presence of these revealing interactions has become more evident to me, I am becoming more attuned to the role of space in the interactions POPJCTs embody – the environment in which one’s life and moment intersect with an object in large part determines the potency of the interaction, and expressivity of the object.
POPJCT’s are thrown with porcelain, altered off the wheel, and fired to cone 6 in an oxidation environment. Glaze choices create a visual and tactile depth. Glitter is incorporated in resin, epoxy is stained with mason stain, and found objects and/or textiles are attached.
Over the years, my work has become more individualized based on my experience and time as a working artist. It has become more specific while broadening its own vocabulary.
@brentpaffordceramics on instagram
email: brentpafford@gmail.com
www.brentpafford.com
