Constant/Change Artist Highlight: Eric Knoche

“When I make my work, I often feel as though I am excavating my own subconscious.” – Eric Knoche

Influenced strongly by his background in anthropology, Eric Knoche creates objects that look as if they were excavated from an archeological dig. Crafting the forms with his hands, he focuses on their formal and material qualities. He states that his work is influenced by  “languages, tools, human and animal anatomy, machine parts, architecture, math equations, small movements of facial muscles, uncertainty, the Argentine tango, the spine, memory, perception, cloud formations, plants, gravity, running water, and songbirds.” This lengthy list is represented in his body of work that so clearly is inspired by the world around him. His clay forms are simple and complex, static and dynamic, bridging the gap between the energy in the world around us and the materials of the Earth. Knoche’s works challenge our understanding of literacy as we try to read glyphs that we cannot understand or attempt to make sense of the symbols and signs we are not familiar with.

Knoche’s works have been exhibited internationally and are featured in the permanent collection of the Mint Museum and The Asheville Art Museum. His works will be shown at GreenHill in Constant/Change from July 26 to September 8, 2019. 

Claire Anderson, Curatorial Assistant 

Images: Eric Knoche, Petroglyph, 2017, Ceramic, 26x25x8 inches

Eric Knoche, Three Chains, 2018, Ceramic, 74x68x9 inches