Beauty and resilience as well as vulnerability and the grotesque can be found in these sculptural ceramics; depicting aquatic life as it interacts with the residue of human culture. Phenomena like ghost nets, byproducts of the fishing industry, provide a framework that reflects both physical and emotional states. They allude to the challenges faced by both the environment and humanity, while highlighting the capacity of wildlife to persevere. These visual narratives challenge us to reconsider the assets and liabilities inherent in the relationships humans have forged with the natural world.

From the Artist:

"My hand-built ceramic sculptures take the form of stylized figures and animals that reflect problematic relationship between humans and the natural world. Like monsters, these clay figures often act as a warning, or show some sort of unfamiliar reality through their distortions and abstractions. My work references some visual language used in art historical periods like the 1960’s and 70’s Funk Ceramics movement, as well as some other familiar historical conventions. Frequently, an uncanny and strange sense of humor is used as a hook, inviting an audience to look at something more serious than initially implied by these playfully articulated works.

Current day and historical environmental issues influence the work I make. I grew up on a 14-mile stretch of the Androscoggin River in Maine that currently requires an oxygen bubbler to prevent the fish from suffocating. Because of this, I foster environmental awareness. Having lived in proximity to a river that has been partially revitalized, but is still on life support, inspires me to research global environmental problems and models for solutions. This research guides me to the people involved in environmental conflicts, and ultimately informs the iconography and characters that inhabit my work."

Born and raised near the Androscoggin river in Greene, Maine, Ben Lambert gained an appreciation for environmental stewardship. In 2008, he received a B.F.A. with a concentration in ceramics from the University of Southern Maine. In 2010, he worked as a summer staff member at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, in Newcastle, Maine.  He received an MFA in Ceramics and Sculpture in 2015 at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA. Ben has taught and been an assistant at various craft schools and he exhibits his work nationally.

More Information: https://www.blamceramics.com/