For the last twenty years, I’ve explored gesture in sculpture through the interaction of form and balance. This interaction has become my medium, as much as any physical material.
My sculptures consist of intersecting parts that stand or suspend together in equilibrium. No part is extraneous, and the delicacy of this balance reveals the fine line between weight and weightlessness, motion and stillness. I’m trying to capture the moment between breathing in and breathing out, between being grounded and taking flight – the pure potential of movement that has not quite commenced. We as humans intuitively understand balance through our own bodies, ever since we learned to stand, to walk, to dance.
I begin each sculpture with a form or a movement that I notice, in an instant, in the world around me. This moment of recognition is the most essential part of my process; it relies on intuition, when emotion and intellect are in balance. It’s never been something that I can push myself to find, but once it’s there, I very quickly have a sense of how it could translate into a physical structure with its own point of equilibrium. Then begins a long series of iterations on paper. As I work, that original form or movement often becomes obscured, with just the experience it gave me remaining. At no point are numerical calculations necessary — when the drawing looks right to me, I know that the finished sculpture will balance on its own.
In each of my works, I hope that the balance between movement and stillness evokes both a sense of harmony, and of playfulness and wonder.
BIOGRAPHY
1978 Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico
2002 Stanford University, California, B.S.
2003 Stanford University, California, M.S.
2003 Moved to Colorado
2003 First solo exhibition of sculpture
2006 Commenced career as full-time sculptor
2016 Moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico
SELECTED PUBLIC, CORPORATE, AND OUTDOOR ART PROJECTS
2023 City of Santa Fe Parks, Santa Fe, NM
2022 Tusen Takk Foundation, Leland, MI
2022 Reeves County Hospital District, Pecos, TX
2020 Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM
2020 Riverside, Hackensack, NJ
2018 Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center Jacksonville, FL
2017 Bank of China, Hong Kong Headquarters
2017 Citibank, China, collection of the CEO
2017 Villas at Chileno Bay, Los Cabos, Mexico
2016 Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO
2016 Perth, Australia
2016 Kapiolani Hospital, Honolulu, HI
2016 Exelon Corporation, Washington DC
2016 The Hepburn, Washington DC
2016 AC Ventura Hotel, Aventura, FL
2015 L’Avenue, Shanghai, China
2015 Wish Aesthetic Surgery Clinic, Taipei, Taiwan
2014 Torrey Hills Homes, San Diego, CA
2014 Waterfront Center, Hoboken, NJ
2014 The Modern, Fort Lee, NJ
2014 Keystone Equities Building, New York, NY
2014 Fairfield and Woods, P.C., Denver, CO
2013 Gates Family Foundation Collection, Denver, CO
2013 Elm Park, Worcester, MA
2012 Senator Michael F. Bennet’s office, Washington, DC
2010 New Mexico Workers Compensation Bldg, Las Vegas, NM
2010 Unser Children’s Discovery Center, Albuquerque, NM
2010 Four Seasons Hotel, Denver, CO
2009 Central New Mexico College, Rio Rancho, NM
2008 Hanson Residence, Boulder, CO
2007 McCune Charitable Trust, Santa Fe, NM
2007 Interleadership Partners, Hong Kong
2007 Landmark Bank, Columbia, MO
2007 Fontainbleu III Hotel, Miami, FL
2006 Ritz Carlton Hotel, Miami, FL
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2023 Gardens at the Chateau de La Napoule, La Napoule Art Foundation, France (upcoming)
2022 A Particular World, the Clift Family, Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX
2022 Will Clift and Elizabeth Hohimer, Desert Vatiations, GP Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2020-21 Will Clift, Selected Works, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2019 Will Clift, J. Willott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2018 Interplays, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2018 Interplays, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York City, NY
2016 Will Clift, Visiting Artist, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2016 Reaching, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York City, NY
2014 Forms in Balance, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2014 Forms in Balance, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York City, NY
2012 Will Clift, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2010 Points of Balance, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2010 Gestures, Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
2008 Will Clift, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2007 Abstraction of Consciousness, Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
2007 Will Clift, Anne Reed Gallery, Sun Valley, ID
2006 Gesture in Balance, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2003 Fourteen Sculptures, Photoeye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
AWARDS / FELLOWSHIPS / PROJECTS
2021 Awarded Prix de Henry Clews for 2022-23; biennial sculpture prize, France
2020 CodaAwards Top 100 for “Nested,” Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center
2018 Artist in Residence, Cow House Studios, Ireland
2017 Autumn Awakening, multi-disciplinary performance at ART021, Shanghai
2017 In a Winter Garden, performance of sculpture, choreography, and musical composition, Bing Concert Hall, Stanford, CA
2016 Recipient of Sculpture By The Sea’s Invited International Artist Program Award
2016 Visiting Artist, Stanford University
2015 Selected for major commission for an outdoor sculpture at Denver Botanic Gardens
2015 Selected as panelist, “Art Markets and Prospects for the Future,” Stanford University
2013 Washington Post, “Editors’ Pick,” September 2013
2013 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, “Honorary Mention”
2012 Artist in Residence, Brush Creek Ranch, Wyoming
2011 Artist in Residence, Chateau de La Napoule, La Napoule, France
2011 Artist in Residence, Fundación Valparaiso, Andalucia, Spain
2009 Artist in Residence, Can Serrat, Barcelona, Spain
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 The Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory, New York City, NY
2020 Group Show, Laura Rathe Fine Art, Houston, TX
2019 Will Clift and Patrick Dean Hubbell, GP Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2018 Nature Speaks, Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
2018 ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair
2017 ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, Galerie Ora-Ora
2017 Ink Asia, Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
2017 Art Miami, Miami, FL (Gerald Peters Gallery)
2016 Sculpture by the Sea, Perth, Australia
2016 Summer Invitation, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA
2016 Art Aspen, Aspen, CO (Gerald Peters Gallery)
2016 Waterways IV, Heather Gaudio Fine Art, New Canaan, CT
2016 Group Show, Peter Marcelle Project, Southampton, NY
2015 Art on the Edge, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM
2015 Art Miami, Miami, FL (Gerald Peters Gallery, NY)
2015 Inventory of Light, Peters Projects, and Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2015 Armory Show, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York, NY
2014 Contemporary Colorado: A Survey of Contemporary Art in Colorado, Curfman Gallery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2014 Aqua Art Fair, Miami, FL (Toomey-Tourell Fine Art)
2014 Group Show, J. Willott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2014 Beyond Sandy, La Napoule Arts Foundation, New York, NY
2014 Art Silicon Valley, San Francisco, CA (Toomey-Tourell Fine Art)
2013 Aqua Art Fair, Miami, FL (Toomey-Tourell Fine Art)
2013 Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Houston, TX (Toomey-Tourell Fine Art)
2013 Summer Invitation, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA
2013 Objects of Desire, Neptune Fine Art, Washington, DC
2013 Group Show, JWillott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2012 Do You See What I See?, La Napoule Art Foundation, Denver, CO
2012 The First 30 Years, Robert Brown Gallery, Washington D.C.
2012 Group Show, JWillott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2011 From the Sculptor’s Hand, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York, NY
2011 Land Use / Misuse, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2011 Young Art Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
2011 Fête, Diehl Gallery, Jackson, WY
2011 Creative Capitol, Colorado State Capitol Building, Denver, CO
2010 Creative Capitol, Denver International Airport, Denver, CO
2010 GP Modern: Artist Perspectives, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2010 Group Show, five sculptures, Telluride Gallery of Fine Art, Telluride, CO
2010 Turned and Sculptured Wood, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2010 Fête, Diehl Gallery, Jackson, WY
2010 Obras Maestras, OBRA Galería, San Juan, PR
2010 Connecting with Contemporary Sculpture, Univ. of Missouri Museum, Columbia, MO
2010 Winter Penthouse Show, Ralph Pucci International, New York, NY
2010 Winter Exhibit, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2010 Group Show, JWillott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2009 Group Show, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York City, NY
2009 Group Show, Ralph Pucci International, New York City, NY
2009 Group Show, Diehl Gallery, Jackson, WY
2009 Exhibition of Gallery Artists, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 Group Show, OBRA Galería, San Juan, PR
2009 Group Show, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2008 Exhibit for the Texas Sculpture Symposium, Gerald Peters Gallery, Dallas, TX
2008 Pat Lasch and Will Clift, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2008 Group Show, Blink Gallery, Boulder, CO
2007 Silver Lining, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2007 Group Show, Blink Gallery, Boulder, Colorado
2007 Hong Kong International Contemporary Art Fair, Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
2006 Best of Colorado Artists, Denver International Airport, Denver, CO
2006 Ink, Clay, Wood and Steel, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2006 Group Show, Blink Gallery, Boulder, CO
2005 Winter Contemporary Show, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2005 Group Show, Takada Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 Baker’s Dozen, Robert Brown Gallery, Washington DC
2005 Color, Found Objects Colorado, Denver, CO
2003 Exhibition of Gallery Artists, Photoeye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2002 Precious Objects, Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Palo Alto, CA
2002 Karl Blossfeldt and Will Clift, Photoeye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
1999 EXPE, Exhibition at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
– CODAmagazine: Art and Wellness, “Nested,” June 2022
– Odessa American, “Art exhibit showcases family’s talent,” June 3, 2022
– Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, March 12, 2021
– AmyClay.com, “Featured Artist/Traveler – Will Clift,” November 2018
– Washingtonian Post, “3 Gorgeous Small Spaces…” March 17, 2017
– Stanford News, “Stanford Alum Returns…as Visiting Artist,” February 2, 2016
– Artsy.com, “Art Meets Science in a New Group Show at Peters Projects,” March 27th, 2015
– China Art Bazaar China, “Best 100 Artworks,” January 2015
– California Homes Magazine, “Creating the Wow Factor,” Winter 2015
– ‘By Elizabeth,’ “Amazing Sculpture Art by Will Clift,” 14 September 2014
– Art, Antiques, Design Magazine, “Forms in Balance,” May 10, 2014
– Westport News, “Will Clift: Forms In Balance,” May 4, 2014
– American Art Collector Magazine, “Balance and Grace,” May 2014
– ARTFIXdaily, April 26, 2014
– ArtDaily.org, “First solo exhibition in NYC of artist Will Clift’s work,” April 26, 2014
– Auction Central News, “Will Clift: Forms in Balance opens May 25,” April 10, 2014
– New Focus On Magazine, “Gerald Peters Gallery Presents Will Clift,” March 30, 2014
– Yareah Magazine, “Spring in NY, Forms in Balance,” April 12, 2014
– Washington Post, Arts Section, October 25, 2013
– Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Magazine, “State of the Arts,” August 2013
– CBS Denver News, “Do You See What I See?” September 16, 2012
– Washington Post, cover of “Style” section, June 28, 2012
– Food and Wine Magazine, April 2011
– World Sculpture News Magazine, “Capturing Gesture,” Autumn 2010
– U Magazine, “Exhibition,” Hong Kong, December 24, 2010
– Cable TV, “Close to Culture,” Hong Kong, December 18, 2010
– Ming Pao Weekly Magazine, “Essential,” Hong Kong, December 2010
– Santa Fean Magazine, “All in the Family,” October/November 2010
– Columbia Daily Tribune, “A Voyage of Ideas and Reflections,” January 2010
– Stepping Out Guide, “Small Works, Big Benefit,” Jackson, Wyoming, December 2009
– Sculptors of the Rockies, a book by F+W Media, Inc., 2009
– Hong Kong Economic Journal, “Art as Investment,” August 2007
– Elle Decoration Magazine, “Now,” September 2007
– Hinge: Design in Focus Magazine, “Cranium!” Hong Kong, September 2007
– Guangzhou Daily, “Will Clift,” China, August 4, 2007
– Hong Kong This Week, “Love Culture,” August 9, 2007
– Ming Pao Weekly Magazine, “Focus,” Hong Kong, August 11, 2007
– Santa Fe New Mexican, “An Eye for Equilibrium,” October 27, 2006
– THE Magazine, “Will Clift: Gesture in Balance,” December 2006
– Albuquerque Journal, “Graceful Gestures,” Oct. 27, 2006
– Southwest Art Magazine, “Taking Shape,” by Stacie Hougland, July 2006
– ARTnews Magazine, “Will Clift,” January 2004
– THE Magazine, “Will Clift: Fourteen Sculptures,” November 2003
– Albuquerque Journal, “Stillness in Unceasing Motion,” September 12, 2003
– Santa Fe New Mexican, “An Eye for Equilibrium,” September 12, 2003
