“Vince Skelly: A Conversation with Trees,” an exhibition of recent work by Claremont artist Vince Skelly, opened Feb. 17 at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art.
The exhibition features abstract monolithic freestanding wood sculptures, including benches, stools and sculptural objects varying in size from handheld to human scale.
Skelly made the sculptures by carving tree trunks, many harvested in the aftermath of the wind storm of January 2022, according to a news release. He shapes each stool, chair or abstract form from a single block of wood, following grain, patterns, knots and other characteristics inherent to the material.
Some of this work was first presented in a solo show organized by Tiwa Select in Los Angeles and featured in the June 2022 issue of Architectural Digest.
The exhibit, which includes a short film documenting Skelly’s challenges in salvaging wood from Claremont’sfallen trees, will be at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art through April 23.
Skelly, who was born in 1987, grew up in Claremont in an artist family and recently returned to live and work in his hometown. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from San Francisco State University.
His work has recently been exhibited at Schneider Museum of Art in Ashland, Ore.; the Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, Wash.; and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU at Pullman, Wash.
For information about Skelly and his work, go to vinceskelly.com.
The Claremont Lewis Museum of Art is in the historic Claremont Depot at 200 W. First St., next to the Metrolink station. The museum is open noon-4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free every Friday.
For information, go to clmoa.org.
