Michael Ferris Jr.
Bronx, NY
Residency: January-February 2011
Project Description:
My aim when starting the residency was to make two projects the main focus of my time. I wanted to begin work on a very ambitious large sculpture, one that I knew I would not complete while at Sculpture Space. I also wanted to work on and complete a smaller piece.
The larger project ended up becoming a monumental human wood head that currently stands approximately 5 feet high. I estimate that by time of completion this piece will be between 6.5 to 7 feet high and will include a shoulders component giving it a more bust-like appearance. I estimate that this work will be completed by the summer of 2011.
The other piece I worked on and completed while at Sculpture Space was a smaller head that stands about 2 feet in height.
About the Artist:
Michael Ferris Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. He currently lives and works in Bronx, New York. Ferris received his B.F.A from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1991 and his M.F.A from Indiana University-Bloomigton in 1996. In the last four years Ferris has had one person shows at ATM Gallery in New York City, Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago, IL and George Adams Gallery in New York City. Opening in November 2010, Michael had a solo show of drawings and sculptures at George Adams Gallery in New York.
Ferris has shown his work at numerous venues including the de Young Museum in San Francisco, CA; Bucheon Gallery in San Francisco, CA; Queens Museum, Flushing, NY; Stux Gallery, New York City; Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL and The Islip Museum of Art, Islip, NY.
Ferris has received many grants and awards including Presidential Scholar, Washington D.C.; CAAP Grant, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, IL; Illinois Arts Council Fellowship; Roswell Artist-in-Residence, Roswell, NM; Emerging Artist Grant through the ACC, New York City; George Sugarman Foundation Grant, Navato, CA; Marie Walsh Sharpe Space Program, New York City; Bronx Council for the Arts (BRIO) Grant in Sculpture, Bronx, NY; and New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Fellowship in Sculpture, New York City.
