Anna Valenti
Anna Valenti (born 1991) was born in Lake George, New York, and trained in ceramics. Her artistic practice brings together fiber clay, hemp, and lime and builds upon weaving structures and gathering spaces to explore connectivity.
Valenti holds an MFA in studio art from the Maine College of Art and Design and a BA in psychology with a post-baccalaureate in ceramics from the University of Colorado Boulder. She has received grants from Colorado Creative Industries and the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. Her work has been featured in publications such as the Financial Times, Ceramics Monthly, and Basketry+, and it is included in the Betty Woodman Study Collection of the University of Colorado.
Valenti is an assistant professor of fine arts and the ceramics coordinator at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. She lives and maintains a studio practice in Longmont, Colorado.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Using fiber clay and hemplime blocks to build architectural installations, my work centers around gathering spaces that cultivate connection. I draw inspiration from structures of support associated with courtyards, such as trellises, pergolas, and woven vessels. By arranging overlapping laths, I create an anchor for something to hold onto and grow. The openness in my work explores human interaction and empathy.
Fiber clay and hemplime (hemp shiv, lime, and water) are materials that form the basis of our environment and provide shelter for us. Hemplime offers structural durability and insulation, and it actively absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide. I tamp each piece carefully by hand and leave it to cure and dry within formwork, resulting in environmentally friendly screened wall spaces.
The gathering spaces I create encourage reflection and contemplation and serve as a place to stay a while. My work invites viewers to gather, slow down, and linger.