Tiffany I. Smith
Simone Leigh
SculptorCeramicistKnown for:
Large-scale stoneware, terra cotta, and bronze sculptures exploring Black female subjectivity, referencing African art traditions
Education:
Earlham College (BA Art, 1990)
Simone Leigh is a sculptor and ceramicist from Chicago whose work draws on African, African American, and African diasporic art traditions to explore Black female identity. She works primarily in stoneware, porcelain, terra cotta, and bronze, employing labor-intensive techniques including salt-firing, Albany slip glazing, and lost-wax casting. In 2022, she became the first Black woman to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale, where her exhibition "Sovereignty" won the Golden Lion for best participant.
Simone Leigh's Gear List(3)
Generic
Connection Source
MatthewmarksWebsite
Connection note
Primary clay body for busts and vessels. Works listed as "stoneware and Albany slip" across multiple exhibitions.
Product description
Mid- to high-fire clay body that matures between Cone 6 and Cone 10 (roughly 1200-1300C). Denser and less porous than earthenware after firing, stoneware is used for functional pottery and sculptural work requiring structural strength.
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Last updated March 22, 2026
