Molly Sanger Carpenter – Bio
I am told that I announced to my family that I was going to be an artist when I was six years old. In high school (where my instructor was the well known sculptress Helen Mason) I interned with sculptor Charles Cropper Parks (past-president of the National Sculpture Society), where I gained experience in sculpture enlargement, reduction, mold making and casting. Upon graduation, I attended The Frudakis Academy of Fine Art (training with sculptor Evangelos Frudakis in figurative and portrait sculpture) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Later, after establishing my studio, I continued my education, studying glass art, mosaic, mural arts, carving and welding.
Early on in my career I received a major commission from the Delaware Heritage Commission for the 12’ bronze “Constitutional Compass Rose” located on Legislative Mall, in Dover Delaware. Many other private and public commissions followed. Most recently I installed an 8’ relief sculpture on the side of Gilpin Hall, in Wilmington Delaware.
My work has been widely exhibited in galleries and shows in New Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia and New York, and in private collections worldwide. It has been on view at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and at various venues including the Coliseum, Rockefeller Center, The Goodwill Games, The National Arts Club, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, The Plastic Club and at the headquarters of the National Sculpture Society, NYC.
My most recent work is of ornamented fine art icons that pay homage to nature and the spirit, combining elements of sculpture, mosaic and painting. I start each piece with clay, and hand finish with paint, gold leaf and mosaics of glass and semi-precious stones. I have developed the process of creating these artworks over a period of time and trial, having landed on this particular recipe after much experimentation. What I have now is a process that I can do from start to finish, without the need to involve a third party foundry. Some of the work is very time consuming- I cut each piece of glass by hand and apply with tweezers- while other aspects of the process require much patience as I wait for materials to harden and dry. Because my studio is in my home I use materials that are non-toxic yet durable, and every aspect of the creative process has been developed to work together as a final product.
I grew up spending summers on the beach at my grandmother's home. Since that time I have always been called back to the ocean, where I find peace and mystery. It is my hope that the work in this show reflects this, and the joyful moments that filled my childhood days.
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