Mary Carlson's Ceramic Dragons and Grotesque Sculptures at Studio 10 Exhibition

Mary Carlson presented her exhibition 'Beautiful Beast' at Studio 10 in Brooklyn from October 5 to 28, 2012. The show featured large-scale ceramic dragons alongside smaller figurines, exploring themes of violence, humor, and craft. Carlson's 13-foot-long serpent 'Big Blue' was assembled from separately-fired stoneware elements with blue crackle glaze, displayed on a custom table. Another work, 'Four Part Snake' from 2010, included googly eyes and a floundering head. The exhibition contained blood-themed elements like crimson watercolor stains and red-beaded embroidery resembling bloodstains. White porcelain child's fists with red-tinted thumbnails referenced Lady Macbeth. Carlson's previous work has included crocheted giant squids and cast brass chicken feet. Her ceramic pieces challenged traditional notions of ornamentation and monumental sculpture through clunky, segmented forms.