Road to Here
2021 BFA Exhibition

Before Graduating, I put together an amalgamation of my work to show my progress and process. That work shows different periods of my artistic career and all the stepping stones that lead to my capstone piece. Below are other works that were in my exhibition and more information about the pieces.

Misfire Man

Originally a three-part sectional sculpture with the base, torso, and head all fitting perfectly together something unexpected happened. During the firing process the torso blew up into multiple pieces. However, by scavenging what was left I managed to create an entirely new piece. This was no small feat since this almost life sized sculpture stands at 5 feet on the dot.

A Closer Look

As shown here, some of the original parts fit back together perfectly, but in other instances there was nothing left. As a testament to the way I work and art style, I rolled with the punches and used what I had to create something new. Using parts from old work (like broken bowl, cups, plates, and sculptures) I rebuilt the torso with the work that helped to build me up as an artist.

Featured work from Road to Here

Fate Series

As part of my working style, I like to incorporate fate into all my art. Each piece is a collaboration between me and whatever fate decides to do: which is unpredictable and out of my hands. Like everything in life, I can only do so much and when a new challenge arises I incorporate it as a new and unique part of the piece I am working on. However, sometimes all we can do is roll the dice and hope for the best
This series was included in my “Road to Here” exhibition

Artist Statement

Charles Lehman: Road to Here

There are many steps from the beginning to the end of a piece. The process is usually unseen, as only the final work is shown. The exhibited work reflects everything that goes into a piece… process, technique, building blocks… success and failure… teaching, learning, making… these are all part of art. All these steps are important to get where I am. We all have to start somewhere and this work shows my journey.

I am not the only factor that goes into my work, Fate has a lot to do with everything I make. Using what is around me is all up to chance and how I apply, assemble, and craft my art is a creative partnership with my abilities and factors outside of my control. Sometimes things don’t work out how I expect and other times they do, neither is bad because the outcomes that are a surprise usually end up being my best work. Not having total control is something that everyone has to deal with in life, so it is only fitting to use in my art because rolling with the punches and working with whatever happens is how everything comes together. Fixing what goes wrong is half the challenge sometimes in a work and the viewers don’t see that struggle and process. In the end it just looks right.

The process of bring everything together is just as exciting as finishing the work, and having a series that shows the improvement of knowledge and technique between each project demonstrates my growth as an artist and person.

Overall, my work has a raw look and feeling to it and leaving it this way shows the untouched emotions. The human contact with the materials that make up my work allows me to put a piece of myself into each project because the viewer can tell I was there.

The Aggression Series

Created during my time spent at Clarion University, I created on this collaboration with my colleague and fellow artist, Adrienne Crist. I threw the work and she used different methods of “physical contact” to relieve some of the stress and aggression that builds up during college. Might as well make something productive if you’re gunna hit something…

Here are a few close ups of the best pieces in this series. These baddies were High Fired during the annual Clarion Wood-fire in Fall 2019, which is an event the Ceramics department holds.