Celestial Bodies is an expansive array of about 60 figures and forms, which not only reflects LaMonte’s life and career but her artistic soul as well. Her body of work follows an interest in the nature of life, connecting ideas of timeless beauty and femininity to both strength and fragility.
“Karen LaMonte’s sculptures are nothing short of breathtaking,” exclaims Stephen Harrison, director and chief curator of the Munson Museum of Art. “She harnesses the heaviest, most unlikely materials to express ethereal beauty.”
Descended from the owner of one of the first glassworks in America, Karen LaMonte was born in New York City. She spent her early years attending museums as a way to escape the heat in the summer. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, LaMonte received several fellowships, including a coveted Fulbright Scholarship, that allowed her to further her study of the concepts of beauty, culture, and the human form.
LaMonte’s work has been shown in many museums around the world. From her earliest experiments in casting glass to her astonishing achievements in ceramic, bronze, and marble, Celestial Bodies includes works that explore size, light, and darkness. Harrison observes, “LaMonte’s art conveys a sense of connection that transcends time.”
