Artwork copyright Martha Shade. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Martha Shade. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Pond Life, 1991

Martha Shade
American (born 1963)

Location: Yakima Valley College, Yakima

About the Artwork

Pond Life is a ceramic sculpture created by artist Martha Shade. She surrounds the realistic bust with natural elements, including lilies, and turtles. These imagery act as metaphors and symbols. She notes, “Because I draw from my own life to depict states of being or to tell a personal story, I do consider many of my pieces to be self-portraits by their content rather than as a formal representation of myself… I choose images form the outer world that have inner meaning for me as well-- they refer to such things as patience, fecundity, solitude, fear, and transformation. I am interested in the tension between the conscious and the unconscious and the way a story can be told on many levels.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Yakima Valley College.

About the Artist

Seattle-based artist Martha Shade creates figurative ceramics, prints, and textile artworks. Born in Colorado, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arizona, and pursued graduate studies at Louisiana State University. She has lived in Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.