Martin Puryear

"Martin Puryear often uses unexplored materials in his work, which has a general biomorphic feeling (simplified organic shapes). He has said that he is interested in the power of a simple, single thing, as opposed to a complex array of things. Perfectly crafted, his sculptures possess an elegant and enigmatic quality, and also a silent eloquence. His work is very sophisticated, and is involved with visual, sculptural ideas, such as oppositions of natural and geometric, stability and mobility, and positive and negative space. As an African-American artist, perhaps his psychical connection with African sculpture is a very old and deep one, and that may help to explain some of the mystery his work contains." - Nancy Doyle