Charles LeDray
Encyclopedia
Charles LeDray is an American sculptor
. He was born in Seattle in 1960. He currently lives and works in New York.
, both briefly.
, was first exhibited in London from 11 July 2009- 18 October 2009. The completion of Mens Suits marked the culmination of three years of full-time work.
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
. He was born in Seattle in 1960. He currently lives and works in New York.
Early life
As a child Charles LeDray learned how to sew — a skill, along with carving and ceramic making, which would later define his work. When asked about his love of sewing, LeDray has said, "The more I did, the more I wanted to do.” His pieces are often made out of wood, bone, fabric and wire. LeDray does not work with any studio assistants — his art is a one-person pursuit. Charles LeDray is primarily self-taught, although he attended art school in Seattle and worked as a museum guard at the Seattle Art MuseumSeattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum is an art museum located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It maintains three major facilities: its main museum in downtown Seattle; the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the central Seattle waterfront, which opened on...
, both briefly.
Career
LeDray has been described as “the best-kept secret of the contemporary art world, labouring away for years before completing a sculpture.” He does not often discuss the meaning of his work, leaving pieces open to interpretation. According to Alan Artner of the Chicago Tribune, “at a time when contemporary art is often wholly dependent on words, the silent, apparently simple but persistently elusive work of LeDray is akin to a blessing.” LeDray is perhaps best known for his small, though correctly proportioned sculptures of everyday objects, which "refrain from feeling precious or adorable.”Fabric-Based Work
The subject of LeDray’s fabric-based work is primarily clothing; however he is not a fashion designer. Everything he makes is hand-stitched. Each item of clothing by LeDray tells a story, and each piece indicates certain traits which could be found in their wearers. One of LeDray’s most frequently visited subjects is men’s suits. The clothes include, “miniaturized jackets, shirts and polo tops… trousers, ties, bow ties, gloves, hangers.” These sculptures have been interpreted as “marvels of meticulous craftsmanship and poetic symbols of male identity.” A three part installation, titled Mens Suits (2006–2009), commissioned by ArtangelArtangel
Artangel is a London-based arts organisation founded in 1985 by Roger Took. Directed since 1991 by James Lingwood and Michael Morris, it has commissioned and produced a string of notable site-specific works, plus several projects for TV, film, radio and the web...
, was first exhibited in London from 11 July 2009- 18 October 2009. The completion of Mens Suits marked the culmination of three years of full-time work.