Porcelain & Clay Sculptor
Evident in Shirley McMahon’s work is her fascination with the fragility of nature in all its forms and lifespans. This fragility is evident in her porcelain and low fire clay sculptures. Her white unglazed pieces reflect elements of antler, bone, feather and shell, while sometimes juxtaposing creatures elements of land and water.
Shirley’s art evolves from a lifetime of curious observation. She sometimes uses her photography for inspiration and then experimentally sketches her visions to play with form. Though she may purposely begin in a certain direction she patiently allows the hand building process to allow the clay to take its unique form. By leaving her sculptures to remain unglazed it allows natural changing light to gently touch the surface and transform the vision.
Shirley McMahon
Shirley McMahon
Key to artwork above by Shirley McMahon
1. DAISY MAY (detail)
Hand built, carved porcelain clay.
2. GENTLE SOUL
Hand built, carved porcelain clay.
3. GOLDEN GIRL
Hand built, carved porcelain clay.
4. LITTLE ONE
Two pieces.
Hand built, carved porcelain clay branch and black clay leaf.
5. SAIL ON, SAIL ON
Hand built carved, low fire clay.
6. SEA RELIC
Hand built carved, hollow form porcelain clay.
7. STONE SHELLS
Hand built carved, hollow form porcelain clay.
8. THROUGH THE FIRE
Hand built carved, porcelain clay with underglaze.
9. TIME LOVED
Hand built carved, porcelain clay.
10. LEAN ON ME
Two pieces
Hand built carved, porcelain clay branch and leaf.
2024 Bio Shirley McMahon
Montreal born artist, Shirley McMahon, is a lifelong painter and photographer. Since 2015 she had been creating unique hand-built ceramic sculptures.
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Shirley has exhibited her paintings, photographs and drawings since the mid 70s and has received numerous awards and honours in Montreal, Vancouver and Lower Mainland, Victoria, the Kootenays, Quadra Island, as well as in Saskatchewan where she first exhibited sculptures at The Mann Gallery.
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She received her Collegiate Studies Degree (CEGEP,1973) in Montreal after which she attended the Vancouver School of Art, presently Emily Carr University of Art & Design, with a focus on painting.
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She later trained in dark room photography and was freelance photographer and writer for Victoria papers. Following that she received her BFA (1994) through the University of Victoria in BC while studying psychology and art history. Her other studies include art therapy. She also offers art classes on contract.
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Shirley has shown in private galleries in Victoria, on Quadra Island and at the Federation of Art Gallery in Vancouver. Since moving to the Okanagan in 2019 she has exhibited at the Kelowna Art Gallery, Lake Country Art Gallery, Penticton Art Gallery, Peachland Art Gallery, as well as through the Vernon Art Centre and with the Okanagan Potters Association and the Kelowna Sculptors Network Society.