Charles LeDray is an American sculptor. He was born in Seattle in 1960. He was a recipient of the "Prix de Rome" from the American Academy in Rome for 1997–98. He lives and works in New York City.
Early life As a child Charles LeDray learned how to sew – a skill, along with carving and ceramic making, which would later define his work. When asked about his love of sewing, LeDray has said, "The more I did, the more I wanted to do."[Hackett, Regina. "Charles LeDray's tiny core samples of the soul make a big impression." Seattle Post 26 April 2003: n. pag. Web. 21 July 2010. <http://www.seattlepi.com/visualart/119313_ledray26q.html>.] His pieces are often made out of wood, bone, fabric and wire. LeDray does not work with any studio assistants – his art is a one-person pursuit.[Carter, Holland. "Creations Small in Scale but Towering in Impact ." New York Times 31 May 2002: E38 . Print.] Charles LeDray is primarily self-taught, although he attended art school in Seattle and worked as a museum guard at the Seattle Art Museum, both briefly.
Career LeDray has been described as "the best-kept secret of the contemporary art world, labouring away for years before completing a sculpture."[Lack, Jessica. "Exhibition Preview: Charles LeDray, London ." Guardian 11 July 2009: n. pag. Web. 21 July 2010. <http://www.speronewestwater.com/cgi-bin/iowa/articles/record.html?record=692 >.] He does not often discuss the meaning of his work, leaving pieces open to interpretation. According to Alan Artner of the Chicago Tribune, "at a time when contemporary art is often wholly dependent on words, the silent, apparently simple but persistently elusive work of LeDray is akin to a blessing."[Artner, Alan. "A disturbing clothes encounter." Chicago Tribune 24 October 2002: p. 4 . Print.] LeDray is perhaps best known for his small, though correctly proportioned sculptures of everyday objects, which "refrain from feeling precious or adorable."[Wilson-Goldie, Kaelen. "Standing Small ." Art & Auction 1 March 2003: p.105 . Print.]
Fabric-Based Work The subject of LeDray's fabric-based work is primarily clothing; however he is not a fashion designer. Everything he makes is hand-stitched. Each item of clothing by LeDray tells a story, and each piece indicates certain traits which could be found in their wearers. One of LeDray's most frequently visited subjects is men's suits. The clothes include, "miniaturized jackets, shirts and polo tops… trousers, ties, bow ties, gloves, hangers."[Lewis, Ben. "From Gladrags to Riches ." London Evening Standard 16 July 2009: n. pag. Web. 21 July 2010. <http://www.speronewestwater.com/cgi-bin/iowa/articles/record.html?record=689 >.] These sculptures have been interpreted as "marvels of meticulous craftsmanship and poetic symbols of male identity."[Johnson, Ken. "Charles LeDray ." New York Times 21 February 2003: p. E45 . Print.] A three part installation, titled Mens Suits (2006–2009), commissioned by Artangel, was first exhibited in London from 11 July 2009- 18 October 2009.[Artangel - Mens Suits <http://www.artangel.org.uk//projects/2009/mens_suits/about_the_project/charles_ledray_men_s_suits>.] The completion of Mens Suits marked the culmination of three years of full-time work.
Ceramic Works LeDray also makes hand-thrown ceramic objects. Milk and Honey (1994–1996), is one of these works. Contained within a freestanding glass cabinet, this piece is composed of 2,000 white, miniature ceramic vessels including teapots, vases and saltshakers.
Workworkworkworkwork Workworkworkworkwork (1991) is another example of LeDray's ability to create collections of pieces. Workworkworkworkwork consists of 588 objects, including shirts, pottery, paintings, necklaces and magazines that recreate displays of objects for sale that homeless people frequently put on New York sidewalks.[Bing, Alison. "Charles LeDray, Sculpture 1989-2002." San Francisco Chronicle 14 March 2003: n. pag. Web. 21 July 2010. <http://www.speronewestwater.com/cgi-bin/iowa/articles/record.html?record=235 >.] The piece is not classified by object, however it is more of a confusion of pieces, each "grouping is ordered in its own special way, as if different senses of order were involved, individual orders—different levels of marketing and presentability."[Saltz, Jerry. "It Don't Come Easy: Charles LeDray's "workworkworkworkwork" ." Arts Magazine 1 April 1992: pp. 23–34 . Print.]
Bone Sculptures LeDray has made pieces out of human bone. His first works in this medium were depictions of solar system models. He has also used bone to carve sculptures of a flea's ladder, a music stand, a door and a full-size stalk of wheat.
References
External links Charles LeDray at Sperone Westwater Gallery Like a Memory - short film about Charles LeDray's Mens Suits