Joshua Enck
Artist Statement
I create animated abstractions, lyrical yet succinct forms that surprise viewers with complex geometries and jaunty stances. My sculptures capture the tension between the spontaneity of the imagination and the restraint of meticulous craftsmanship. For me, sculpture is problem-solving: engagement with the material world and the resistance and affordances it provides. I enter the studio with sketches but no preconceived solutions; rather, I embrace the unforeseen possibilities that arise when building by hand. My sculptures thus embrace a raw, awkward sensibility that emerges through their making. I complement my intuitive form-making process with great attention to detail. I employ labor-intensive metal fabrication and woodworking techniques to realize challenging compound-complex curves, angular geometries, and the intersection of disparate volumes. I continually experiment with materials and techniques to express new possibilities, creating an eclectic oeuvre united by my engagement with formal abstraction.
Artist Bio
Joshua Enck (born 1977) is a sculptor, designer, draftsman, and illustrator who teaches and maintains an active studio practice in Rochester, New York. He trained as an architect and a furniture designer, receiving his MFA in furniture design from the Rhode Island School of Design and his BSAS from the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois. He taught for ten years at RISD: drawing, three-dimensional design, technical drawing, woodworking, and metalworking. He has also taught woodworking at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center and drawing at the University of Illinois, Williams College, and the University of Rochester. Joshua has exhibited his work in solo shows at Simon Gallery and at the University of Maine Museum of Art. The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston, and the Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia have honored his work. Joshua just returned from five months in India as a Fulbright Nehru Scholar, researching traditional metalsmithing and teaching at the Sushant School of Design.
Selected Exhibitions
Education
2003 MFA, Furniture Design, Rhode Island School of Design (with honors)
1999 BSAS, Architecture, University of Illinois (with high honors)
1997-1998 Study Abroad Program, l’Ecolé d’Architecture, Versailles, France
Professional Experience
2003-present Independent Studio Artist, Sculpture and Furniture
2018 (fall) Ansal University, Sushant School of Design, Gurgaon, India, Visiting Professor, Division of Interior Architecture, Furniture Design and Joineries
2016-present University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Art and Art History, Introductory Drawing
2013-2014 Williams College, Williamstown, MA, Instructor, Department of Art, Three Dimensional Foundations and Cardboard Sculpture & Furniture
2005-2014 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Furniture Design & Division of Foundation Studies, Spatial Dynamics (3D Design), Drawing, 3D Drawing & Design, 2D Drawing & Design, Metalworking for Furniture Makers, Woodworking Dialogues in Sculpture and Furniture
2006-2018 Emma International Artist Collaboration, Saskatchewan, Canada, Four-time invited metal and woodworking artist
2005-2013 University of Illinois, School of Architecture, Versailles, France, Instructor, Five plein-aire drawing courses in courses in Italy & Greece
2003-2005 Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO, Woodshop Manager, Teaching Assistant, and Instructor
Solo Exhibitions
2016 Line Work/A Celebration of Shadows,Simon Gallery, Morristown, NJ
2014 New Sculptures,Simon Gallery, Morristown, NJ
2012 Joshua Enck,Simon Gallery, Morristown, NJ
2011 The Gesture Contained,University of Maine Museum of Art, Bangor, ME
2010 Oblique Vantage: Recent Work by Joshua Enck,AS220 Project Space, Providence, RI
2003 New Ideas Generated from the Sketch,M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, RISD, Providence, RI
Two- and Three-Person Exhibitions
2012 Reconsidering,three-person exhibition at Green Space, T.F. Green Airport, Providence, RI
Curators: Sarah Ganz Blythe (RISD Museum of Art), Amy Horschak (The Museum of Modern Art)
2012 Contour: Reflections on Form,two-person exhibition, Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Westport, MA
2009 Joshua Enck & Gretchen Dow Simpson, two-person exhibition, Chazan Gallery, Providence, RI
2008 Interpreting the Vernacular Landscape,three-person exhibition, Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University, PA
Recent Group Exhibitions
2018 & 2017 Group Exhibition of Represented Artists, Soderbergh Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
2016 & 2015 Sculpture, Roan and Black Contemporary Gallery, Saugatuck, MI
2015, 2013, 2011, 2009, & 2005 Faculty Biennial, RISD Museum of Art, Providence, RI
2015 Art Prize, Grand Rapids, MI
2014 A Show About Nothing, Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon, Canada (Curator: Michael Hosaluk)
2012 Bigger | Glorious Objects, Jamestown Art Center, Jamestown RI, (Curator: Jesse Smith)
2012 Small Works,Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Westport, MA
2012 Decoy,Saskatchewan Craft Council Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, Canada
2011 Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Fellowship Exhibition, The Artists Cooperative Gallery, Westerly, RI
2011, 2008, & 2006 Cairn Croft Sculpture Exhibition,Cairn Croft Sculpture Garden, Dover, MA
2010 Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Fellowship Exhibition,Imago Gallery, Warren, RI
2009 Functional Objects of Desire,Gallery Z, Providence, RI
2009 Full Circle,Marwen Gallery, Chicago, IL
2007 RISD Routes,Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA (Curator: David Revere McFadden)
2007 10 Makers for the New Millennium,Fuller Craft Museum (Curators: Meredyth Moses &Kathryn Corbin)
2007 Whatever Meredyth Wants Now,Gallery Naga, Boston, MA (Curator: Meredyth Hyatt Moses)
2006 Excellence in Craft Artist Fellowship Exhibition,The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA
2005 Selected Contemporary Artists,Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI, (Curator: James Brayton Hall)
2005 Faculty Biennial, RISD Museum of Art, Providence, RI
2005 Box Elder Studios, Providence Fine Furnishings Show,Providence, RI
2005 New Work from the RISD Department of Furniture Design Faculty,Virginia Lynch Gallery, Tiverton, RI
2004 & 2003 Resident Artist Exhibition,Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO
2003 Emerging Perspectives,Meredith Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2003 Roaring Fork Open,Aspen Art Museum, Aspen CO
2003 5thAnnual Juried All-Media Competition,Providence Art Club, Providence, RI
2003 RISD Graduate Student Exhibition,RISD Museum and Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
Collections and Commissions
2018 Turret, Private Collection, Massachusetts
2016 Piroutte, University of Maine Museum of Art, Maine
2016 Syncline, Private Collection, New Jersey
2015 Trace, Clasp, andOctet Aeration, Private Collection, Maine
2014 Aground andMary Anne, Private Corporate Collection, New Jersey
2014 Aquamanile, Blue Bird, and Dollop, Private Collections, Michigan
2013 Counterpoise, Private Collection, Michigan
2012 Filament, Lineament andRiven Draft, Auerbach Family Collection, New York City
2012 Optic Splitter, Private Collection, New Jersey
2011 Oxide Shoal, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, sculpture auction, Massachusetts
2010 Cravat, Barnaby Evans and Irene Lawrence, Rhode Island
2009 Wedding Bench, Fidelity Investments, Rhode Island
2008 Canter and Shed, First Prize, Public Sculpture Competition with Nick Hollibaugh, Rhode Island
2008 Oxide Turnout, Deborah Hawkins, Massachusetts
2007 Weathering Steel Public Bench Commission, Town of Westport, Massachusetts
2006 Dorsal Clad, Flatiron Sheath,and Cairn Poise, Private Collections, Massachusetts
2004 Petticoat Inclusion and Clerestory Askew, Dee and Charles Wyly, Colorado
2004 Chimney Red, Oilcan Snuffer, andHeadhouse Vantage, Beverly and Sam Maloof, California
Invited Artist Lectures and Collaborations
2014 Visiting Artist Lecturer, Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU, Richmond, VA
2010 Visiting Artist Critic, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
2010 Visiting Artist Lecturer, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
2009 Visiting Artist Lecturer, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
2010 Art Juror, All Media Open Juried II,South County Art Association, Kingston, RI
2007 Visiting Artist Lecturer, Manthan II,Delhi, India
2007 Aya Nagar Design Charrette,University of the Arts and Royal Society of the Arts, Delhi, India
Awards
Awards, Grants, and Fellowships
2019 Windgate ITE International Residency (awarded), Center for Art in Wood, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Fulbright-Nehru Scholar Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship, Delhi, India
2014, 2013, & 2009 RISD Part Time Faculty Association Technical Development Fund Awards
2012 New England Art Awards, People’s Choice Sculpture Award
2012 Professional Development Grant, Rhode Island School of Design
2011 Fellowship in Three Dimensional Art, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
2010 & 2007 Merit Fellowships in Crafts, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
2006 Excellence in Craft Artist Fellowship, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA
2006 Professional Development Fund Award, Emma International Artist Collaboration, RISD
2003 Award of Excellence, Department of Furniture Design, Providence, RI
2002 Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
1999 The Frank B. and Jennie M. Long Traveling Fellowship, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
1999 Ricker Award in History of Architecture, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Publications
Publications and Press Reviews
2019 Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Magazine Interview, Simone Solondz
2019 WXXI PBS Arts in Focus Interview
2018 “Art and Life with Joshua Enck,” Boston Voyager
2013 “RISD Faculty Show a Smorgasbord for Art Lovers,” Providence Journal, Bill Van Siclen
2013 “The 2013 RISD Faculty Biennial, A Wondrous Window,” The Phoenix, Greg Cook
2011 “UMMA Brings RI Sculptor’s Large-scale Work to Bangor,” Bangor Daily News, Aislinn Sarnacki
2011 “The Art of the State,” The Providence Phoenix, Greg Cook
2010 “Oblique Vantage: Recent Works by Joshua Enck,” Art New England, Martina Windels
2010 “Your Tax Dollars at Work,” The Providence Phoenix, Greg Cook
2009 “RISD Biennial is Politics-Free,” The Providence Journal, Bill Van Siclen
2008 “Providence Artists Win Competition to Design Sculpture,” The Providence Journal, John Castellucci
