Raven Halfmoon: Caddo Girl in a Material World

Bill Brady Miami is pleased to present Caddo Girl in a Material World an exhibition of new sculptures by Raven Halfmoon.

Caddo Girl in a Material World focuses on ideas of traditionalism vs materialism. Raven creates powerful, often large-scale ceramic sculptures that speak to the artist’s identity as both a citizen of the Caddo Nation and a contemporary women. She channels her ancestral legacy while being true to the present time.

Halfmoon's works reflect ideas of her tribal identity and traits of her millennial peers. Frequently in  her sculptures the application of glazes resemble makeup, jewelry and tattoos as well as facets of herself, family and ancestors. She references themes in pop culture that are then carved from the past and embellished in timeless stoneware clay.

Many of the designs on the sculptures are culled from traditional Caddo iconography. In "She's Something Else" stripes run from the lips to the neck in red—a color that signifies wounds, war, blood and earth. Furthermore, each work has her name scrawled on them, glaze dripping in all caps. Each a fierce beauty demanding attention with the same intensity as the quiet profound gaze of each face.

Clay is layered with rounded forms, the thumbprints form a pattern which is made using an ancient Caddo technique of “punctating.” The result is a distinctively textured surface. Halfmoon seeks to create a dialogue between how she represents herself and her culture and the limited way society chooses to characterize the outsider. Halfmoon considers it necessary to continue a tradition of making and storytelling.