Kimono Maquette 1, Crouching

Artist / Maker Karen LaMonte ((American, b. 1967))

Date2012

MediumCeramic, guilding

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LinePurchased by University Museums with funds from the Joyce Tomlinson Brewer Fund for Art Acquisition. In the permanent collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberUM2020.41

Status

Not on view

Collections

Sculpture

CultureAmerican

Label TextKnown for her ethereal life-sized female figures in massive cast glass, Karen LaMonte has become an important contemporary artist who’s beautiful and realistic representations of the clothed human form have earned her an international reputation. Her interest in depicting kimono-clad female forms stemmed from several months living in Japan. LaMonte spent her time in Japan learning all aspects of the kimono and its importance in Japanese culture. By immersing herself in the culture, she was able to better understand the Japanese ideals of beauty and femininity that allowed her to honestly render her figures in kimono. "Kimono Maquette 1, Crouching" represents LaMonte’s first forays into new materials outside of glass, here in a terracotta colored ceramic with gilded details. The small-scale study depicts a Japanese woman carefully bending at the knees as to not disturb the many layers of her intricate kimono. The sculpture is a wonderful contemporary interpretation of the women found throughout the historical Japanese woodblock print collection that is an integral part of University Museums’ permanent collection. The addition of the maquette adds great depth to understanding the continued and important influence of Japanese culture on contemporary artists, allowing the Museums to exhibit the historical and contemporary arts together for dynamic learning experiences.

Locations