Steven Portigal

Steven Portigal is best known for building sculptures inspired by the natural world .His earliers culptures are built from ceramic pieces that mimic stones and sticks.Portigal studied with Howard Tollefson at California ...
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Typical Marks

About
Biography
Steven Portigal is best known for building sculptures inspired by the natural world .His earliers culptures are built from ceramic pieces that mimic stones and sticks.Portigal studied with Howard Tollefson at California State University and with Adrian Saxe at the University of California. His early work with the vessel anticipated his interest in the textural potential of clay?s surfaces that he uses to full effect in his future work. At this time he also explored figurative sculpture..In 2013 concerned for the effect of burning fossil fuels in the firing process Portigal stopped working with fired clay. Going forward he began building his sculptures from locallyfound materials. His sculptures began to repurpose man made items and natural pieces such as stones and sticks.
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Public Collections
  1. Lannan Foundation, Santa Fe, New Mexico
    Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, California 
    Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps College Museum, Claremont, California
Bibliography
  1. Bettleheim,  Judith."Ceramic Art in California: The 1970's." NCECA Journal, 1982.
    “News and Retrospect.”Ceramics Monthly, June 1986.
    Parr, Catherine. "Clay Currents.”Ceramics Monthly, February 1994.
    "Schools of Thought.” Los Angeles Times, October 30, 1992.
    Seckler, Judy. “Steven Portigal: Improvisations in the Key of Life." Ceramics:Art and Perception, June 2012.
    Sklarz, Ellen."Lifestyle.” L.A. Style, April 1987.
     
     
     
     
     
CV or Resume

Website(s)
Tags (related topics)

Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery

Scripps College, Claremont, California

Citation: Steven Portigal, "The Marks Project."
Last modified April 29, 2026. https://www.themarksproject.org/artists/steven-portigal

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