Walter ONeill

Lives and works in Deerfield Beach, FL

Artist statement

After moving to South Florida and beginning to work in ceramics, I became increasingly inspired by the fecundity of the subtropical landscape; the symbiosis of climbing vines, dense undergrowth, and constant cycles of growth and regeneration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I sketched large old banyan trees, captivated by their heavy networks of roots, vines, and branches. These were the foundation for creating the sculptures with legs and branches ensnarled with ribbons and coils of clay that viewers immediately identified as candelabras. Candelabras and wall sconces have been used in every culture throughout history for a variety of religious, ceremonial and memorial purposes. For me the intimate size of my sculptures are in the tradition of domestic use, from the sconces in an Ancient Roman lararium or Renaissance private devotional altarpiece to the Last Rites crucifix with candles in a contemporary Catholic bedroom. My artwork has always been about an absence, both seeking an understanding of loss and absence as well as a memorial.

Artwork