Elsa Sahal's Ceramic Sculpture: New Techniques and Bodily Metaphors

Born in 1975, Elsa Sahal studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Paris and specializes in sculptural work that emphasizes the human form, often incorporating phallic and androgynous shapes. Following her residency at the Archie Bray Foundation, she transitioned to using wood-fired Anagama kilns. Her creations include commedia dell'arte characters like headless Gilles and harlequins, as well as maternal figures that evoke landscapes. Recent works such as "Blonde" and "Masque équilibre" delve into themes of fragmentation and the body as a landscape. Influenced by Anita Molinero and Pasolini's "La Ricotta," she also addresses migration through ex-voto feet and draws inspiration from African masks, Picasso, and Caravaggio. Currently, Sahal is preparing a lecture for CalArts and working on a bas-relief influenced by a German Renaissance virgin and Caravaggio's Medusa.