Biography

Nan Wollman is an artist, teacher, and preparator. She grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where she explored the arts scene. Ms. Wollman holds a B.F.A. in ceramics from The University of the Arts and an M.F.A. in sculpture from The University of Texas at San Antonio. She has lived in various locations, continuing to create art and teach at different levels, from workshops to universities.

Ms. Wollman started her journey in ceramics, which sparked her interest in surface and texture, leading her to focus on creating strong forms. She combines shapes, textures, patterns, and colors to design her sculptures. Her ceramic works can be either artistic or functional, and the same goes for her welded pieces. Her creations are strong yet flowing, rough yet polished, reflecting the connection between society and nature. The steel enhances and supports the clay. Her ongoing series of steel and clay pieces showcases beauty, with solid clay and organic steel, creating a whimsical and lively effect. The finished works feature feminine shapes paired with vertical elements and maintain a contemporary yet rugged style.

Nan Wollman started learning photography and darkroom techniques as a teenager and studied cyanotype in college. Her work spans various styles, including digital photography, cyanotypes, and lumen prints, mainly focusing on landscapes and plants. She has worked with the cyanotype process for many years, incorporating her photographs, X-rays, and other objects to create layered and collaged prints. Her current series features cyanotypes with animal images that explore the impact of climate change on life. Influenced by Dada and Surrealism, she uses unexpected combinations of images, similar to how Dadaists recontextualized everyday items.

She is most influenced by abstract art that features strong shapes and uses natural materials. She appreciates "Primitive" art from Africa and the Americas for its straightforwardness and simplicity in combining form, surface, and function. Ms. Wollman has participated in studio residencies at The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, The Vermont Studio Center, Studios Midwest, Appalachian Center for Crafts, and The Banff Center. She has exhibited her work and received awards in the U.S. and internationally for many years. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, USA.