CONCORD, MASS.- Lacoste Gallery announces its presentation of Darcy Badiali: The Transcendental Vessel, an exhibition of the artist’s monumental expressive ceramics through May 27 2017.

Darcy Badiali brings to New England for the first time his large scale and boldly expressive vessels. Born in Fresno, California, Badiali received his BFA at Kansas City Art Institute under the eminent ceramic artist, Ken Ferguson. He later received his MFA at Arizona State University under Kurt Weiser and taught there.

Choosing clay as his primary medium the artist’s work consists predominantly of wheel-thrown stoneware vessels. Though the forms have their origin in function, the scale lends itself to sculptural issues of space. The passion that he has for the potter’s wheel provides a visceral approach to creating his art. Living on the California coast, he finds his environment and surroundings an inspiration for the creation of his works. Forms that he references are reminiscent of plants, stones, coral and other objects found in nature. The surfaces range from elephant skin, to craters to egg shells.

According to Badiali, “My art is about finding beauty in the process, in the materials and in the completed piece. I am interested in understanding the place of ceramics in not only the art world but the larger world as a whole. “

Badiali is represented by the permanent collections of Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for the Arts, Alta Loma, CA; American Museum of Ceramic Art, Los Angeles CA; Kathryn H. Herberger Museum, Tempe, AZ; the Daum Museum of Art, Sedalia, MO; the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS; Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO; Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT; and in Shigaraki, Japan in the Shiro Otani Collection among others.

“With his Zen spirit and Brutalist art approach, Badiali fits us more than I can imagine. The heart and soul of his work in a large scale format takes your breath away.” Lucy Lacoste