the artist

Nicholas Kripal

Photo Credit: Jeff Hurwitz, courtesy of Tyler School of Art

Nicholas Kripal

Philadelphia, PA

Nicholas Kripal

http://www.nicholaskripal.com

Originally entitled Swarm and commissioned for an installation totaling 66 individual terra cotta sculptures at the Philadelphia International Airport, December 2009 - June 2010.  That installation was sited within three, twenty-two foot long cases.  The installation utilized historical, vintage, and contemporary food molds and serving containers that were slip-cast and assembled to construct numerous individual hybrid terra sculptures.  These sculptures referenced the evolution of industrial design influences, city-planning strategies – or lack thereof – and architectural iconographic ornamentation like that found on historical buildings across Philadelphia, to create an “abstract urban cityscape.”  Twenty-six individual sculptures from that original installation were selected by Kripal and arranged on/within two specifically designed vitrine covered pedestals to create this installation Swarm: Reconfigured No. 2 for the Pennsylvania Convention Center Art Collection.

Fast Facts

Name: Nicholas Kripal

Website: www.nicholaskripal.com

Place of Birth: Sidney, Nebraska

Education:
BFA 1975 – University of Nebraska, Kearney
MS Art Education 1977 – University of Nebraska, Kearney
MFA 1979 – Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

Notable or memorable instructors or mentors:
Robert Winokur
Jon Clark
Adela Akers
Rochelle Toner

Particular field of study or class work:
Site Specific – Site Related Installation/Ceramic and Mixed Media Sculpture

Major influences/admired artists:
The Minimalist movement
Bruce Naumen
Richard Tuttle
Elsworth Kelly
Eva Hesse
Petah Coyne
Too many more to mention...

Favorite materials or media:
Ceramics in all its forms
Concrete
Mixed media applications 

School or university affiliation (when Convention Center acquired artwork):
1985 to 2016 – Tyler School of Art, Temple University

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