Shops in Burzet, Ardèche

Opening : All year round.

Martha creates figurative sculptures in terracotta inspired by the human body, some of which are transformed into bronze. She has recently added pastels to her repertoire to express her love of nature and colour.

Born in Texas, I moved to France at the age of 24, first to Lyon, then to Burzet in the Ardèche in 1980. When I was in my fifties, my attraction to art led me to make my first creations in clay.

What I like is to see the expression of a feeling come to life. When I sculpt, I start from something inside me, with a simple idea that inspires the creation. From my earliest experiences, I naturally gravitated towards the figurative, drawing inspiration from the human body. A taste for detail also quickly guided my work. I'm fascinated by the characteristics of the typical faces of all ethnic groups. As I didn't come out of the Beaux Arts, I took courses in sculpture with live models for 7 years to develop my work.

My patinated terracotta works are often transformed into bronze at the foundry, where I accompany them through the various stages of production. I often prefer light patinas because they are closer to the terracotta that I love so much. For me, my bronzes are a new birth for my works, a different touch, a certain nobility and durability.

Each sculpture is a unique presence with its own density and emotion. It's all about feeling, a look, a gesture that ‘speaks’... simple, devoid of artifice... a palpable presence.

Recently, I added dry pastels to my artistic bow to express my love of nature and colour. Another adventure! I feel fulfilled with these two ways of expressing life.