Center for Craft 25th anniversary logo in red

Grant Recipient

Abby Sunde

Windgate-Lamar Fellowship

2024

Artist Statement

Growing up in the deep woods of Wisconsin, on 1837 Ojibwe-ceded territory, the woods were always a source of solace, imagination, and curiosity. As an adult, my attunement to nature has grown, and today I employ glassworking and drawing to find where natural processes and phenomena can merge within a craft practice. Using kiln-casting and hot shop processes to explore my ideas, I’m often drawn to mold-making and the mimicry that molds permit. The materiality of glass—its liveness, and its ability to embed meaning in ways that preserve narrative—inspires and animates my practice. Similarly, my interest in drawing is rooted in the connection and character of natural materials and the ways they can be invited into a collaborative space. With these materials in mind, I investigate the ideas of community and individual sovereignty through the lens of plant/land/food systems and their current state within a post-colonial society.

Bio of the Artist

Organization Background

Abby Sunde (she/her) is a visual artist based within the Upper Midwest of Minnesota and Wisconsin. She received her BFA in Studio Art from UW-Madison in 2024, with an emphasis in glass and drawing. Sunde is a direct descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and is also of Scandinavian/European-American descent. Informed through her previous education and work in environmental science and remediation, and through her previous work supporting food-security in Native communities, Sunde’s practice is an exploration of the complex societal challenges therein.

Location

Madison, WI

EDUCATION

SPECIALIZATION

Glass/Mixed Media Installation

Institution

Grant amount

$15,000

Also awarded

No items found.

Selected works

Also Awarded...