Emerging from a quiet Greenwich Village studio, a captivating collection of ceramic sculptures is drawing attention across the contemporary art scene. Crafted by New York artist Ellen Colcord, the “Army of Beings” series serves as a tangible bridge linking the timeless craft of working with clay to the unseen realms of human spirituality.
Spontaneous Meditation in Practice
Combining ancient artistic traditions with modern sensibilities, Colcord crafts mystical figures that carry profound symbolic weight. Rather than relying on rigid preparation, she employs a rapid, intuitive practice she defines as “spontaneous meditation,” favoring swift creation above careful planning.
In this workflow, the clay acts as an active collaborator, capturing the “memory of touch” to record fleeting moments of subconscious awareness with raw authenticity. Rather than seeing her evolving forms as fixed objects she builds alone, Colcord treats them as “visitors” that she simultaneously guides and follows.
An Educational and Artistic Evolution
This spiritually resonant body of work has roots in a 1988 professional pivot, when Colcord walked away from a successful career at a New York City design firm to pursue fine art full-time. That bold step initiated a wide-ranging creative and academic exploration spanning multiple continents:
- Italian Inspiration: Stationed in Siena, Italy, she examined the 13th-century creations of master Duccio di Buoninsegna, finding inspiration in the spiritual “golden sphere” motif within his pieces, while also honing her skills at the Academia di Belle Arte in Urbino.
- Academic Foundations: Her formal background includes a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art from New York University, complemented by a Master’s degree in Art and Religion from Yale University Divinity School.
Gateways to Transcendence
Even though Colcord explores diverse mediums such as film, collage, and books, clay stays at the core of her visceral, direct expression.
As the contemporary art world investigates questions of deep significance and material limits, the “Army of Beings” stands out as a meaningful achievement. These ceramic creations invite quiet contemplation, acting as physical entryways to celestial dimensions and reflecting humanity’s long-standing search for the sacred.