SARAH CHAPMAN

SARAH CHAPMAN SPEAKS IN CLAY

At the age of four, it was obvious to those around Sarah Chapman that words weren’t necessary for self expression– Chapman’s language was art, and clay, her words. 

After long regular drives from home in Brewster, MA, to the acclaimed Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill (Cape Cod), her mother Nancy recalls waiting in a cold car and “rippin’ butts” outside as her budding 13 year-old punk rocker would toil upstairs. Nancy describes the sound of dedication: a constant “THWAP, THWAP, THWAP” of slamming down clay to improve its texture. Years later, renowned institutions like the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) and Cabrillo College (California) continued to hone Chapman’s skills, but it was at Mudflat Studios (Somerville, MA) where she truly immersed herself in clay's intricate language. This deep understanding shines through her precise and confident manipulations, evident in each mesmerizing coil rolled and barnacle carved.

She regularly combines ancient traditions, contemporary aesthetics, and unexpected elements, like printmaking techniques such as monoprint and sgraffito. The result are layers of texture and imagery that tell refined, if gritty, tales of the sea, the female form, and the extraterrestrial. 

Beyond technique, Chapman's repertoire evokes emotion and conversation in the Tanuki Gallery on Cape Cod, where her work has been on constant view since it opened in 2020 . Each body of work is a little bit “I love you”, and a little bit “fuck off”, where irreverent surfaces and playful experimentation invite viewers to discover their own personal interpretations. 

Chapman's story extends beyond her own creations. As a dedicated high school ceramics teacher in Concord, MA, she shares her knowledge and passion with infectious enthusiasm, ensuring the legacy of her craft continues to flourish.