The Wichita Falls Museum of Art will welcome Matt Wedel and his recent sculptures, “On The Verge,” with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. On The Verge will remain displayed at the WFMA until Feb. 15, 2020.

Wedel’s sculpture collapses artificial boundaries between painting, sculpture, drawing, and ceramics. His work highlights the permeability of these mediums, and by extension, the permeability of nature and culture.

“We’re excited to be in partnership with the LSU Museum of Art to bring these exuberant ceramic sculptures by an internationally known artist to Wichita Falls," WFMA Museum Director Tracee Robertson said. “Matt has shown his art throughout the United States, in Canada, and overseas in France, England, Denmark and Switzerland. It’s unusual to see ceramics on such a large scale—two of the pieces are more than 6-feet tall and weigh as much as a car — so the exhibition offers a unique experience.”

Sculptural forms feature clearly articulated flowers and loose impasto petals in both vessel-like pedestal objects to canvas-like wall sculptures. Often the imprint of Wedel’s hand or fingers remains present to reveal his gestures and suggest emotion. Focusing on mark-making as “gestures of being alive,” Wedel communicates a fearless expression of self in his sculptures’ confident shapes and natural imperfections.

With his work, Wedel pushes ideas and materials to the verge of collapse, seeking acceptance through loss as a metaphor for environmental loss. He asks through his sculptures’ playful beauty, “What is the function and value of creativity in the face of such challenges?” Wedel believes this function is to infuse culture — our daily actions, decisions, and relationships — with reminders of hope, courage, and connection.

The exhibition is organized by LSU (Louisiana State University) Museum of Art in collaboration with LSU College of Art and Design and LSU School of Art with support from The Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly Jr. Fund. At WFMA, the exhibition is made possible by the City of Wichita Falls through a grant from the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture, the ceramics program at the Juanita and Ralph Harvey School of Visual Arts, and MSU Texas with support from the Museum Trust.