Artwork copyright Bennett Bean. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2023.

Artwork copyright Bennett Bean. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2023.

Untitled, 1983

Bennett Bean
(American, born 1941)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Bennet Bean created this painted earthenware vessel. It is part of his body of ceramic pieces that evolved out of his interest in color. He views his painted surfaces as "decorated skin surrounding a black or gold interior space."

Bean first threw the form and painted the surface with clay slip. He then added a cut tape resist and waxed areas he wanted to remain unglazed. He sprinkled salt into the wet wax to create a speckled pattern. The tape was burned off in the next firing. He finally painted the exposed areas with acrylic paint and sealed the piece. He describes this process as a play between control and accident. He notes, "Everything that happens, every step in the process, leaves evidence. The finished piece is simply the accumulation of this evidence."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with South Kitsap School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Bennet Bean is a New Jersey-based artist. Known for his ceramic artworks, he also creates paintings, drawings and mixed media sculpture.
Bean was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of Iowa in 1963. He pursued graduate work at the University of Washington in Seattle. He transferred to the Claremont Graduate School in California, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1966. His works are included in several museum collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, and the White House Art Collection.