This Venus created in 1991 by Bernadette Torres was sold originally through the Cohen-Berkowitz Gallery.  Bernadette studied at the Kansas City Art Institute under Ken Ferguson and Victor Babu as well as Bede Clark in St. Petersburg. This is one of 7 pieces from her senior year show. It is made from 5 / 6 coned stoneware clay with englobe slip, it is hollow and slab built, twice fired. It measures 38 x 15 x 25. The selling of this piece was instrumental in launching her career as an artist and has been a beloved piece in our seller’s collection. 

Torres lives in Kansas City and is a full time professor at MCC and the Carter Gallery Director. Her works are collected throughout the country and are a part of several permanent collections including the ‘largest public art project in Kansas City history’ at the Kansas City International Airport.  You can see an interview with the artist featured in the One Nine Left documentary about the artist selected for exhibition here https://www.kansascitypbs.org/local-shows/one-nine-left/

Visit the artist’s website to learn more about her and her work.