-04.png)
Artist Statement
Through sculpture, I explore the female form and the experiences of women in society. My work is evolving from fragmented torsos to include portrait heads and full-body figures, some of which are still works in progress, reflecting the ongoing journey of my exploration.
​
My torso sculptures are intentionally abstracted and fragmented. These omissions reflect the ways women have historically been deprived of rights and opportunities, leaving a sense of incompleteness that still resonates today. The viewer is invited to mentally complete the figure, prompting reflection on their own perceptions of women.
​
As my work expands to include portrait heads and full figures, I focus more closely on presence, individuality, and the complexity of women’s experiences.
​
Ultimately, my work seeks to celebrate women and promote empowerment by challenging societal norms that attempt to define or limit women’s identities.
​
Janice MacLean
Bio
Janice R. MacLean is an emerging clay sculptor originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, now based in Maryland, USA. Her work explores the struggles and resilience of women through sculpture, ranging from fragmented torsos to portrait heads and full-body figures.
​
Janice’s pieces employ a variety of materials and surface treatments—raku firing, patinas, layered stains, and textured finishes—to create depth, tonal variation, and a sense of transformation. Many of her sculptures are presented in shadow boxes or on granite bases, giving the figures presence and highlighting their strength and transformation.
​
She began working with clay at an early age, developing a passion for art through ceramics. Janice earned an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design from Tidewater Community College in Chesapeake, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where sculpture became her primary focus.
​
Her diverse professional background spans creative and technical fields. She has worked as a Graphic Artist and Art Assistant, honing design and visual communication skills, as well as in IT and accessibility roles. These experiences inspire her to provide empowering titles and meaning to her work. Janice believes that art should be accessible to all and hopes to explore this in the future.
​
Janice continues to expand her sculptural practice through workshops and mentorship with world-renowned sculptor Basil Watson, exploring portrait heads and full-body figures. During these sessions, she has studied principles of balance, proportion, form, and movement, while practicing advanced techniques to achieve greater detail and refinement in her work.
​
Her sculptures reflect life’s challenges while celebrating empowerment, transformation, and inner strength, inviting viewers to reflect on perseverance, resilience, and the radiant beauty that emerges through experience.
​
Medium
I’m drawn to clay for its expressive potential and the way it responds to touch—it comes to life as I work. Clay is both forgiving and versatile, allowing me to build, carve, and reshape each form as it evolves. I sculpt every piece by hand, working directly into the surface to reveal texture, movement, and emotion. Each stage of the process requires a sensitivity to water and time, both essential to bringing the sculpture to life.
