Kevin Francis Gray explores the complex relationship between abstraction and figuration in his sculptural practice, merging traditional techniques with contemporary life. His works focus on psychological effects by emphasizing textural surfaces rather than striving for ideals of beauty or commemoration. Embracing the historical and cultural legacy of Italian marble, Gray reimagines this traditional material within a modern context.
By blending classical techniques such as modeling, casting, and carving with meticulous craftsmanship, he transforms the inherent hardness and stillness of marble, bringing it to life. Balancing concave and convex forms, his sculptures defy the static nature of the medium, embodying a state of perpetual becoming. Through this approach, Gray bridges the aesthetics of classical sculpture with a forward-looking vision, creating a dialogue between the past and the future.
Gray’s sculptures provide profound commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of vulnerability, emotion, and mythology. While his early works are hyperrealistic and figurative, he later transitions to more abstract forms, often concealing or partially revealing the identities of his subjects. For instance, in Ghost Girl (2007), cascading glass bead curtains both shroud the figure and evoke a sense of mystery and trauma. Similarly, in Young Sun Boy (2020), Gray combines mythology with personal narrative, contrasting his signature marble carving with a bronze plate slicing through the bust, blending delicacy with an underlying tension. Despite the physical challenges of working with traditional materials, Gray achieves a tactile and visual balance in his works. His art pays homage to traditional methods while boldly pushing the boundaries of contemporary sculpture.
Kevin Francis Gray, born in 1972 in Armagh, Northern Ireland, studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and Goldsmiths University in London. His works have been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Royal Academy in London, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and the Saint-Étienne Museum of Modern Art.
Known worldwide for his meticulous works made from Italian marble and other traditional materials,
Gray lives and works between London and Pietrasanta.