The Soulful Clay Figures Taking Shape in New York

A captivating body of work titled “Army of Beings” has emerged from a serene Greenwich Village workspace, drawing attention across the contemporary art world. Created by New York-based artist Ellen Colcord, these ceramic pieces bridge timeless earth elements with deep spiritual exploration.

Intuition Meets the Medium

The mystical sculptures blend echoes of antiquity with modern sensibilities, carrying a profound symbolic gravity. Rather than relying on strict blueprints, Colcord employs a rapid, intuitive practice known as “spontaneous meditation” that favors immediate expression over careful preparation.

In this dynamic, the clay acts as an active collaborator, preserving the “memory of touch” and capturing fleeting moments of subconscious awareness with raw clarity. Colcord perceives her sculptures less as premeditated fabrications and more as autonomous entities that she simultaneously steers and accompanies.

An Academic and Artistic Evolution

This spiritual body of work has roots in a pivotal 1988 career change, when Colcord walked away from a successful position at a New York design company to pursue fine art full-time. That pivot set off a rich educational and creative exploration spanning several regions:

• European Study: Stationed in Siena, Italy, she examined the 13th-century creations of master Duccio di Buoninsegna, finding inspiration in his use of the spiritual “golden sphere,” while also honing her craft at the Academia di Belle Arte in Urbino.
• Advanced Degrees: Her formal background includes a Master’s in Studio Art from New York University and a Master’s in Art and Religion from Yale University Divinity School.

Gateways to Transcendence

While Colcord explores multiple disciplines—spanning collage, film, and literature—clay continues to serve as her core vehicle for immediate, tactile communication.

At a time when modern art frequently investigates existential depth and material limits, the “Army of Beings” stands out as a meaningful statement. These ceramic forms invite quiet contemplation, acting as tangible thresholds to celestial realms and reflecting humanity’s timeless pursuit of the divine.