"I present artworks as tools or artifacts to communicate with creatures that populate a spirit world."
Originally from Salem, Massachusetts, Paul Swenbeck (b. 1967) developed a fascination with the macabre and occult at an early age, which has filtered into his idiosyncratic sculptures, paintings, photographs, and installations. He graduated with a degree in ceramics from Massachusetts College of Art in 1991. In recent years, he has primarily filtered his creative energy into working with clay, which provides an alchemical experience that is central to his inspiration. "I fully embrace the spirit of chance and loss of control when working with clay," he says. "I set forth to create objects that are surprising to myself and visually rich in detail." Swenbeck's work is on permanent display at the West Collection, Oaks, PA and The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York. He has been included in exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania; Fleisher/Ollman Gallery and Vox Populi in Philadelphia; and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, among other venues. He is the Chief Preparator at Philadelphia's Institute of Contemporary Art. He plans to continue an ongoing investigation of fossil forms and to visit various fossil sites and house museums as a basis of inspiration for future work in sculpture.
