Meet Nan Wollman | Sculptor, photographer, ceramicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nan Wollman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nan, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have to do it. I wouldn’t recommend it if you can do something else to live, and create as a hobby.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I do one of a kind pieces. That said, I do have things in ‘series’. I’m presently making large ceramic sculpture, in a triangle form. My cyanotype photos I am working with vessel forms with images, My pottery class, I’m playing with lidded forms. What sets my work apart? My work refers to other work, but it looks like my work.
I got here by not stopping. I am an artist and I need to create, Making money is a little more complicated. Making money creating, and teaching others to make stuff, is my preferred choice on how to keep me in studio supplies and under a roof. If you think success=money, you need to be good at marketing. The artists that are best at promoting themselves make the most money.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That really depends on what they like. Food- Barrio Bread and Boca Taco’s. Tito and Pepe’s. Chef Wang. Going to Mt Lemmon is an experience, because in a relatively short drive, you’re in a completely different world. Etherton Gallery is first class, and so is The Center for Creative Photography. The museums, Tucson Museum of Art, MOCA Tucson, and Univ. of Az Museum of Art, depends on what’s up. The many botanical gardens are great, because the Sonoran Desert is like nothing else on earth. And there’s the Loft Cinema for interesting movies.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My teachers, and friends. Naming names; William Daley, Lisbeth Stewart, Petras Vaskys, Les Manning, Lindsay Dumas, David Miner, Ken Little. Influences: Ray Metzker, Richard Serra, Jackie Windsor, Barbara Hepworth, Martin Puryear, Lee Bontique, Ruth Asawa, H.C. Westerman, Louise Nevelson, Alexander Calder, Bette Saar, Alison Saar, Louise Bourgeoise,Eva Hesse. This whole article could be a list of names.

Website: wollmanstudios.com

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