The Art of Natural Process
Dove Bradshaw is an American artist whose practice integrates environmental factors and natural processes. Her work explores the interaction between materials and atmospheric changes through chemical paintings, erosion sculptures, and the use of crystals to capture radio transmissions. Utilizing substances such as salt, stone, acetone, mercury, and sulfur, she creates pieces that undergo gradual transformations via weather and chemical reactions.
Her notable bodies of work include the Contingency Series, which uses silver and liver of sulfur on various supports like metal plates, wood, and paper to respond to the environment. Other works include Guilty Marks, consisting of chemicals, pigments, ink, and varnish, and the Indeterminacy Stones, where pyrite transforms into limonite when exposed to the elements. Her sculptures also feature Radio Rocks, which use stones as antennas to receive various radio frequencies.
Exhibitions and Recognition
Bradshaw's work is held in several permanent collections, including:
- The Museum of Modern Art
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- The National Gallery in the United States
- The British Museum in Europe
- The Russian State Museum (Marble Palace) in Russia
She has participated in international exhibitions such as the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea and has had mid-career exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and the City University of New York. Her awards include the 1975 National Endowment for the Arts Award for Sculpture and the 1985 Pollock-Krasner Award for Painting.
