KQED Spark - Viola Frey

Introduction to Viola Fry and Her Studio Routine00:00:24

Viola Fry creates massive, handcrafted figures from clay that define a great contribution to modern art. She maintains a rigorous studio schedule, typically working from 9 to 2, six days a week.

Overcoming Physical Challenges00:01:31

Over the past five years, Viola has suffered devastating strokes and now relies on her studio assistant, Sam Perry, to help her continue working. Her desire to return to the studio was the primary motivation for her physical recovery.

The Monumental Scale of Her Work00:03:39

Viola and Sam are currently working on pieces for a New York show, including a standing man nearly 10 feet tall. The process is slow, adding only about 2 to 3 inches of clay per day, taking roughly a month per section.

Artistic Process and Technique00:05:35

Viola began her monumental work nearly 20 years ago at the California College of the Arts. To achieve her desired scale, she cuts figures into sections to fire them piece by piece before painting and glazing.

Themes and Inspiration00:06:43

Born in 1933 in Lodi, California, Viola was influenced by the strong women on her family farm. Her work explores gender roles, often depicting nude women as more powerful icons than men in suits.

The 'Junk' Collection and Philosophy00:07:42

Viola's studio vault contains pieces from the last 25 years. She creates 'slipcast brickerlage' using molds of 'junk' from flea markets, remaking cultural garbage into high art based on the notion of rearranging ancient sources into new forms.

A Life Devoted to Art00:09:46

Viola Frey views her art not as a source of simple joy or sadness, but as a compulsion. She does not separate her life from her work and will continue creating as long as she can hold a paintbrush.