Denise Quirk
Love Meter, Ceramics and Metal, 9.5 in. x 5.5 in., 2017
Pensacola, Florida
“I have always been drawn to cultural masks. Masks have a historical role for the understanding of what it means to be human. They permit the imaginative experience to affirm existing social or spiritual identities. The stories and inspiration behind my ceramic masks stem from my life’s emotions and experiences. My imagery illustrates the parallels between the human experiences and the deprogramming of childhood fairy tales. My masks dramatize man’s relationship with other human beings and rites of passage, and they comment on our culture’s idea of feminine beauty and stereotypes. I provide a reflection of the human soul, symbolizing both powerful and fragile moments in time." - Denise Quirk