Sculpture

USA, 1996
<p>This table top sculpture composed of five unglazed rectangular slabs suggests a house or church. The slabs are standing on a short side and are held together by a copper rod that extends out and is bent close to the slab. The two outer slabs are bent to mimic the roof ridge on a house. A triangle that points toward the foot has been removed <span>along the top edge of </span>the outer slabs . The three interior slabs are flat. Two of them have slanted sides at the top that create triangles that are opposed to those on the outer slabs. The surfaces are mottled grey, black, and rust as a result of an atmospheric firing. </p><p>An image of the other side shows the copper rod runs through the piece.</p><p>A top view shows the five slabs of various thicknesses the triangular shapes point toward the viewer.</p><p> A view of the underside shows the five slabs of clay.</p>
American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA)
Date acquired:
Materials:
Stoneware
Form - Functional: N/A
Form - Sculptural: N/A
Method:
Slab-Built
Hand-Built
Surface Technique: N/A
Kiln Type: N/A
Glazes: N/A
Nina Hole

Nina Hole is known for her monumental clay ?fire sculptures,? which are equal parts sculpture and performance art. These resemble rudimentary churches and houses built by teams of people, then fired in place. Although solid looking, the structures were hollow inside and built in a modular system which connected rows of slabs bent into a u-shape, making a strong, double wall system. These were sometimes minimal with a rough, rudimentary exterior decorated with terra sigillata or glaze.

Instead of being fired in a kiln, the fire brick bases are the kiln fire box. Wood is fed into the brick kiln base throughout the firing process. Once wrapped in insulating k-wool material the sculpture with its fire box is the kiln. When the insulating blankets are removed the monumental sculpture is revealed, a glowing fire belching sculpture. Sculptures would be built on fire bricks, and sometimes cement so they could be moved to another location. Hole?s performance art were Happenings[1] these reveals were events, a key part of her art.

American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA)

Hole in other collections

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Last updated: April 22, 2026

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