Gillian Parke (NC), Contemporary Porcelain Wall Sculpture

Contemporary, fired porcelain with feldspar inclusions, applied decals, contemporary abstract pillow form with diapered motifs and key surround, featuring a portrait after Thomas Gainsborough's Blue Boy with floral motifs, with floral and brass bead mounts, signed "Gillian" to the reverse.

8 x 9 x 2 3/4 in.

From the Estate of the late Francine Pilloff, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Gillian Parke graduated from Boston University with a BA in chemistry. Gillian continues to work in chemistry at the Durham VA Medical Center doing research into quantitating neurosteroids. Her journey with clay began in 1995 with a wheel throwing class offered through the Parks and Recreation Department of Chapel Hill. After spending a year taking courses towards a MFA in ceramics at East Carolina University, Gillian returned to Durham where she currently has a studio. In 2008 she received an Emerging Artist Grant from the Durham Arts Council. She was chosen by Ceramics Monthly Magazine as one of 13 Emerging Artists in 2008 and was featured as a cover artist in the February 2009 issue. Gillian Parke’s work explores the fusion of rough and fine textures and surfaces into complete pieces of ceramics. Her work is in numerous public and private collections including the San Angelo Museum of Art and the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC.

Chipping to front floral motif.