• Home
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
  • Rare Finds
  • Gallery
  • Publications
  • Instagram Feed
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
  • Rare Finds
  • Gallery
  • Publications
  • Instagram Feed
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Sonya Clark

Sonya Clark

Newsletter Essay, 2018-2019

There is a dichotomy at the heart of the work of textile and social practice artist Sonya Clark. The simplicity of her everyday materials such as hair, textiles and language is at odds with her urgent exploration of the legacy of craft, history and race. Drawing on the complexity of her Afro-Caribbean family with a Jamaican mother, Trinidadian father and a Scottish great-grandfather, she has a unique vantage on the notion of American identity: forged through slavery, immigration, love and an intergenerational linking of cultures.

Her work is grounded in the exchange of stories and skills that underpins the transmission of craft techniques between individuals and generations. The personal is political. This is evident in her performance Unraveling, in which she and participants slowly unravel a Confederate battle flag, thread by thread. As Clark has explained, “The intent is not to destroy a Confederate battle flag but to investigate what it means to take it apart, a metaphor for the slow and deliberate work of unraveling racial dynamics in the United States.”

Clark is currently Professor of Art and the History of Art at Amherst College, and formerly a Distinguished Research Fellow in the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also holds a BA from Amherst College where she received an honorary doctorate in 2015. She is the recipient of the Rappaport Prize, a United States Artist Fellowship, a Pollock Krasner award, an 1858 Prize, and an Anonymous Was a Woman Award.

Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language”, 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed each (12)
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language”, 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed each (12)
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Another Crossing; “Power Tools: text/land/language” (detail), 2019, Hand made cotton paper with earth from Patuxet (Plymouth MA), letterpress, 9.5" x 7" unframed
Sonya Clark - Black + Blue (SOLD), 2018, pin-pricks on paper and gouache, 4.75" x 7.75" unframed
Sonya Clark - Black + Blue (SOLD), 2018, pin-pricks on paper and gouache, 4.75" x 7.75" unframed
Sonya Clark - Do not touch my hair, 2011-2022, A digital print of the Braille matrix made with images of hairballs, Text in Braille of the title with glitches and typos, 4.25" x 9" unframed, Unique
Sonya Clark - Do not touch my hair, 2011-2022, A digital print of the Braille matrix made with images of hairballs, Text in Braille of the title with glitches and typos, 4.25" x 9" unframed, Unique
Sonya Clark - Do not touch my hair, (frame detail) 2011-2022, A digital print of the Braille matrix made with images of hairballs, Text in Braille of the title with glitches and typos 4.25" x 9" unframed Unique
Sonya Clark Do not touch my hair, (frame detail) 2011-2022 A digital print of the Braille matrix made with images of hairballs, Text in Braille of the title with glitches and typos 4.25" x 9" unframed Unique
Sonya Clark - Eyes on Freedom (Frederick Douglass), 2022, Glass, beads, photographs, Dimensions variable (each eye is 1.25")
Sonya Clark - Eyes on Freedom (Frederick Douglass), 2022, Glass, beads, photographs, Dimensions variable (each eye is 1.25")
Sonya Clark - Eyes on Freedom (Frederick Douglass) (detail), 2022, Glass, beads, photographs, Dimensions variable (each eye is 1.25")
Sonya Clark - Eyes on Freedom (Frederick Douglass) (detail), 2022, Glass, beads, photographs, Dimensions variable (each eye is 1.25")
Sonya Clark- “Freedom was a community laboring for something lovely and rare.” – Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, 2017, human hair, 12" x 8.25" x .5" unframed
Sonya Clark- “Freedom was a community laboring for something lovely and rare.” – Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, 2017, human hair, 12" x 8.25" x .5" unframed
Sonya Clark - “Freedom was a community laboring for something lovely and rare.” – Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (framed detail), 2017, human hair 12" x 8.25" x .5" unframed 20.25" x 13.5" framed
Sonya Clark - “Freedom was a community laboring for something lovely and rare.” – Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (framed detail), 2017, human hair 12" x 8.25" x .5" unframed 20.25" x 13.5" framed
Sonya Clark- “Freedom was a community laboring for something lovely and rare.” – Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (detail), 2017, human hair, 12" x 8.25" x .5" unframed
Sonya Clark- “Freedom was a community laboring for something lovely and rare.” – Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (detail), 2017, human hair, 12" x 8.25" x .5" unframed
Sonya Clark - The comb never learned the name of the curl, 2015, cast bronze, 1" x 4.75" x .25" unframed, Unique Variant
Sonya Clark - The comb never learned the name of the curl, 2015, cast bronze, 1" x 4.75" x .25" unframed, Unique Variant
Sonya Clark - The comb never learned the name of the curl (framed detail), 2015, cast bronze 1" x 4.75" x .25" unframed 9.25" x 8.25" framed Unique Variant
Sonya Clark - The comb never learned the name of the curl (framed detail), 2015, cast bronze 1" x 4.75" x .25" unframed 9.25" x 8.25" framed Unique Variant
Sonya Clark - Twist (SOLD), 2022, Hair-based font lead type in hand made cloth bound box with pamphlet, 4.5” x 4.25” x 1.75”, Editioned
Sonya Clark - Twist (SOLD), 2022, Hair-based font lead type in hand made cloth bound box with pamphlet, 4.5” x 4.25” x 1.75”, Editioned
Sonya Clark - Hair Weave, 2019, human hair, 16.75" x 18" x 1.75" framed
Sonya Clark - Hair Weave, 2019, human hair, 16.75" x 18" x 1.75" framed
Sonya Clark - Hair Weave (detail), 2019, human hair, 16.75" x 18" x 1.75" framed
Sonya Clark - Hair Weave (detail), 2019, human hair, 16.75" x 18" x 1.75" framed
Sonya Clark - Touch, 2002, glass beads, 108 by 1.5 by 1.5 inches
Sonya Clark - Touch
Sonya Clark - Touch (detail), 2002, glass beads, 108 by 1.5 by 1.5 inches
Sonya Clark - Sonya Clark - Touch (detail)
Sonya Clark - Pigtails, 2013, canvas and cotton thread, 10 by 10 by 26 inches
Sonya Clark - Pigtails
Sonya Clark - Pigtails (detail), 2013, canvas and cotton thread, 10 by 10 by 26 inches
Sonya Clark - Pigtails (detail)
Sonya Clark - Albers Interaction (9/21), 2013, combs, embroidery thread, 5.25 by 4.5 by 1 inches
Sonya Clark - Albers Interaction (9/21)
Sonya Clark - Unraveling, 2015, cotton Confederate battle flag, 70 by 36 by 7 inches
Sonya Clark - Unraveling
Sonya Clark - Whitewashed, 2017, painted direclty on wall, made up of Sherwin Williams paint colors: Incredible White, Storyteller, Natural Choice (actual paint color names), 44 by 82 inches
Sonya Clark - Whitewashed
Sonya Clark - Care Taker, 2018, gold leaf, found leather, 28 pieces, dimensions vary, framed size: 11 by 11 inches each
Sonya Clark - Care Taker
Sonya Clark - Care Taker (detail), 2018, gold leaf, found leather, 28 pieces, dimensions vary, framed size: 11 by 11 inches each
Sonya Clark - Care Taker (detail)
Sonya Clark - Reach 2 (SOLD), 2017, glass beads, 27.5 by 3.5 by 3.5 inches
Sonya Clark - Reach 2 (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Reach 2 (detail) (SOLD), 2017, glass beads, 27.5 by 3.5 by 3.5 inches
Sonya Clark - Reach 2 (detail) (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Obama and Lincoln (Penny Portrait) (with detail on right), 2011, inkjet print, 67 by 42 inches
Sonya Clark - Obama and Lincoln (Penny Portrait) (with detail on the right)
Sonya Clark - Octoroon (SOLD), 2018, canvas and thread, 83 by 38.25 inches
Sonya Clark - Octoroon (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Octoroon (detail) (SOLD), 2018, canvas and thread, 83 by 38.25 inches
Sonya Clark - Octoroon (detail) (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Octoroon (detail) (SOLD), 2018, canvas and thread, 83 by 38.25 inches
Sonya Clark - Octoroon (detail) (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Afro Abe with Human Hair (SOLD), 2012, five dollar bill and artist's hair, handmade box, 3.5 by 6.125 inches, box dimensions: 4 by 7 by 1.25 inches
Sonya Clark - Afro Abe with Human Hair (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Lift (SOLD), 2018, leather, gold leaf, 8.5 x 10.5 inches framed
Sonya Clark - Lift (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Unraveled Persistence, 2016, deconstructed nylon Confederate Battle Flag threads, flag pole, 104 by 24 by 8 inches
Sonya Clark - Unraveled Persistence
Sonya Clark - Untitled (detail), 2016, deconstructed nylon Confederate Battle Flag and flag pole, 104 by 24 by 8 inches
Sonya Clark - Untitled (detail)
Sonya Clark - Interwoven (SOLD), 2016, unwoven and rewoven commercially printed flags, 6 by 6 inches unframed / 12 by 11.75 inches framed
Sonya Clark - Interwoven (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Interwoven (detail) (SOLD), 2016, unwoven and rewoven commercially printed flags, 6 by 6 inches unframed / 12 by 11.75 inches framed
Sonya Clark - Interwoven (detail) (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - French Braid and Cornrow (SOLD), 2013, cloth, thread, wood, 84 by 40 by 2 inches
Sonya Clark - French Braid and Cornrow (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Flag With Hair (SOLD), 2017, Khadi paper, hair, 16 by 11.75 inches paper size
Sonya Clark - Flag With Hair (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Flag With Hair (detail) (SOLD), 2017, Khadi paper, hair, 16 by 11.75 inches paper size
Sonya Clark - Flag With Hair (detail) (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Cotton With Hair (SOLD), 2017, Khadi paper, hair, 11.5 by 16 inches paper size
Sonya Clark - Cotton With Hair (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Cotton With Hair (detail) (SOLD), 2017, Khadi paper, hair, 11.5 by 16 inches paper size
Sonya Clark - Cotton With Hair (detail) (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Slave Collar (SOLD), 2017, pricked Khadi cotton paper, 11 by 16 inches unframed / 13 by 17.5 inches framed
Sonya Clark - Slave Collar (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Plain Weave (SOLD), 2008, combs and thread, 42 by 47.5 inches
Sonya Clark - Plain Weave (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Afro Abe Progression (SOLD), 2008, five dollar bills, thread, 36.5 by 12.5 inches framed
Sonya Clark - Afro Abe Progression (SOLD)
Sonya Clark - Watermelon World (SOLD), 2014, wood, cotton, embroidery, pins, 7 by 5 by 5 inches
Sonya Clark - Watermelon World (SOLD)

Lisa Sette Gallery

210 East Catalina Drive
   Phoenix, Arizona 85012

480 990 7342

Gallery Hours

Tuesday - Friday 10am - 4pm

Saturday 11am - 4pm

And by appointment

Closed Sunday and Monday

Sign up for Exhibition Invitations

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Social Profiles

© Copyright - Lisa Sette Gallery
Enrique ChagoyaIllegal Alien's Guide to Mindfulness (detail)Kim Cridler - Stand (SOLD), 2022, steel, 22k gold leaf 25" high x 15" wideKim Cridler
Scroll to top