PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.- The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania is organizing the first museum survey of the works of Charles LeDray. LeDray creates sculpture notable for its range of scale and wide variety of materials such as bone, fabric, and porcelain. His objects embody the conviction that ideas are experienced not only through the life of the mind but also through the skill of the hand. The exhibition continues through July 14, 2002.



In his sculpture, LeDray’s meticulous attention to detail and personal subject matter elicits a strong response from the viewer. This is evident in such works as Milk and Honey, (1994-1996), in which 2000 unique, hand-thrown porcelain vessels are incorporated into a huge multi-tiered vitrine. For his clothing-based sculptures he embroiders patches, constructs zippers, and fabricates hangers. His oeuvre also includes human bone which has been sculpted into buttons, furniture, a shaft of wheat and Tellurian, (2000), a complex planetary model.



This comprehensive exhibition of recent works will feature approximately 30 pieces created by LeDray since 1989. Included are several of LeDray’s early works such as untitled/Broken bear (1993), as well as his clothing based sculpture Come Together (1995-1996), and other pieces drawn from private and public collections.