SAM ARDREY
MFA ’26 Fine Arts Low-Residency
My fiber and ceramic sculptures represent the relationship with my family, heritage, craft and generational trauma. The elements of fiber craft come from my maternal side — craftsperson’s, knitters, crocheters, shepherds, etc. while the hardware and industrial elements harken to my paternal side of the family, many of whom are engineers and inventors. I combine both sides with elements with my own flair. Playing with scale is part of this exploration, sizing up household objects like a fly swatter or shrinking down a suitcase to the size of a playing card. as is contrast, either through color, texture, or material. Trompe l’oiel is an integral part of my style,. Whether it’s a “fabric” corset on a metal teapot or a teapot made of “leather”, they each have their own twist on tradition.
Many of my ceramic textures are created using silicone, plaster, or clay molds of various knit, crochet, and knotted pieces. Highly pigmented underglazes are the main source of color, usually layered and then thinned with water and used as a wash to create an authentic worn look. My goal is to surprise and delight the viewer, leaving them wondering if that was actually clay or fabric and how did they make that?
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Sam Ardrey (She/They) is a multi-media sculptor based in Eureka, California. She received an AA in Graphic Design, BFA in Studio Art, and an MFA in 2026 from Massachusetts College of Art and Design.Shows include: Small Favors Show at The Clay Studio, CCACA, Morris Graves Museum of Art and the RAA Focus on Fiber. Recipient of the Graduate Academic Award for Big, Bold, Creative Thinking and The Laundry Award for Academic Excellence.
