Will Clift: Forms in Balance
For the last fifteen 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.
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
SELECTED PUBLIC, CORPORATE, AND OUTDOOR ART PROJECTS
2014 Torrey Hills Homes, San Diego, CA: two large-scale outdoor sculptures (upcoming)
2014 Wish Aesthetic Surgery Clinic, Taipei, Taiwan: four large-scale sculptures (upcoming)
2014 Waterfront Center, Hoboken, NJ: six eleven-foot suspended sculptures (upcoming)
2014 The Modern, Fort Lee, NJ: one large sculpture in atrium
2014 Keystone Equities Building, New York, NY: one large-scale suspended sculpture in lobby
2014 Fairfield and Woods, P.C., Denver, CO: one interior sculpture
2013 Gates Family Foundation Collection, Denver, CO: one large-scale sculpture in entranceway
2013 Elm Park, Worcester, MA: one temporary, sixteen-foot long sculpture installed in lake
2012 Senator Michael F. Bennet’s office, Washington, DC: one sculpture in main conference room
2010 New Mexico Workers Compensation Bldg, Las Vegas, NM: eight-foot tall sculpture in lobby
2010 Unser Children’s Discovery Center, Albuquerque, NM: sculpture in front lobby
2010 Four Seasons Hotel, Denver, CO: three large-scale and 12 medium-scale sculptures
2009 Central New Mexico College, Rio Rancho, NM: one six-foot wide sculpture in foyer
2008 Hanson Residence, Boulder, CO: eight-foot tall sculpture
2007 McCune Charitable Trust, Santa Fe, NM: two sculptures in public spaces
2007 Interleadership Partners, Hong Kong: one large-scale sculpture in entryway
2007 Landmark Bank, Columbia, MO: one sculpture
2007 Fontainbleu III Hotel, Miami, FL: three seven-foot tall sculptures in lobby
2006 Ritz Carlton Hotel, Miami, FL: six-foot wide sculpture in conference room
2006 Dooley Residence, Boulder, CO: two large outdoor sculptures in treated wood
2003 Scanlan Residence, Santa Fe, NM: ten-foot tall outdoor bronze sculpture
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
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
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2014 Contemporary Colorado: A Survey of Contemporary Art in Colorado, Curfman Gallery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Group Show, J. Willott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
Beyond Sandy, La Napoule Arts Foundation, New York, NY
Art Silicon Valley, San Francisco, CA (Toomey-Tourell Fine Art)
2013 Aqua Art Fair, Miami, FL (Toomey-Tourell Fine Art)
Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Houston, TX (Toomey-Tourell Fine Art)
Summer Invitation, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA
Objects of Desire, Neptune Fine Art, Washington, DC
Group Show, JWillott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2012 Do You See What I See?, La Napoule Art Foundation, Denver, CO
The First 30 Years, Robert Brown Gallery, Washington D.C.
Group Show, JWillott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2011 From the Sculptor’s Hand, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York, NY
Land Use / Misuse, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Young Art Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Fête, Diehl Gallery, Jackson, WY
Creative Capitol, Colorado State Capitol Building, Denver, CO
2010 Creative Capitol, Denver International Airport, Denver, CO
GP Modern: Artist Perspectives, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show, five sculptures, Telluride Gallery of Fine Art, Telluride, CO
Turned and Sculptured Wood, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Fête, Diehl Gallery, Jackson, WY
Obras Maestras, OBRA Galería, San Juan, PR
Connecting with Contemporary Sculpture, Univ. of Missouri Museum, Columbia, MO
Winter Penthouse Show, Ralph Pucci International, New York, NY
Winter Exhibit, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show, JWillott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
2009 Group Show, Gerald Peters Gallery, New York City, NY
Group Show, Ralph Pucci International, New York City, NY
Group Show, Diehl Gallery, Jackson, WY
Exhibition of Gallery Artists, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show, OBRA Galería, San Juan, PR
Group Show, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2008 Exhibit for the Texas Sculpture Symposium, Gerald Peters Gallery, Dallas, TX
Pat Lasch and Will Clift, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
Group Show, Blink Gallery, Boulder, CO
2007 Silver Lining, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show, Blink Gallery, Boulder, Colorado
Hong Kong International Contemporary Art Fair, Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
2006 Best of Colorado Artists, Denver International Airport, Denver, CO
Ink, Clay, Wood and Steel, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show, Blink Gallery, Boulder, CO
2005 Winter Contemporary Show, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show, Takada Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Baker’s Dozen, Robert Brown Gallery, Washington DC
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
Karl Blossfeldt and Will Clift, Photoeye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
1999 EXPE, Exhibition at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
AWARDS / GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS
October 2014 Artist in Residence, Wildacres, North Carolina
October 2013 Washington Post, “Editors’ Pick,” September 2013
Summer 2013 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, “Honorary Mention”
Fall 2012 Artist in Residence, Brush Creek Ranch, Wyoming
Fall 2011 Artist in Residence, Chateau de La Napoule, La Napoule, France
Spring 2011 Artist in Residence, Fundación Valparaiso, Andalucia, Spain
Spring 2009 Artist in Residence, Can Serrat, Barcelona, Spain
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
– 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, “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
– Mingpao 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
