2026
2nd Place recipient
Lauren Clay
My work evokes the ethereal architecture of dreams, transforming the intangible imagery of the personal and collective unconscious into ornate, visceral realities. Stairs, doorways, windows, and energetic pathways intertwine—passageways that beckon yet remain elusive. At this hypnagogic gateway, viewers are invited into the indeterminate theater of the dream world.
I am deeply fascinated by the concept of “place”—the energy and atmosphere inherent in architectural sites, both ancient and modern, as well as the psychological resonance embedded within them. Much like the Biblical story of Jacob’s ladder, my work bridges the physical and the supernatural, offering a threshold between the known and the numinous.
The sculptures are meticulously hand carved from high-density urethane with traditional wood-carving tools. I create intricate surfaces that are sanded, modified, and painted to simulate faux-marble, stone, and concrete, bridging the gap between the material and ethereal.
I often exhibit the sculptures within immersive, site-specific installations that engage the gallery architecture, extending the relief forms into expanded illusionistic space. The wall-based murals originate from tiny collages of marbled paper which are scanned, enlarged, and printed on vinyl, magnifying the tooth, texture, and depth of the collage and creating a trompe l’oeil effect. The imagery reinforces the forms of the sculptures while further distorting space, layering illusion on illusion.
