Luz-Mary Harris

Artistic statement

   Luz-Mary Harris, a Colombian/American sculptor, residing in New York City, creates representational sculptures, mostly of the human figure, that convey movement, action and a narrative. Her “Soulmates Series” shows couples in an embrace, reclining or in close proximity, reflecting a physical as well as emotional closeness and connection.

    Her main sources of inspiration are Mythology, Greek and Roman sculpture, in addition to extensive international traveling. Her background as a clinical psychologist, and extensive exposure to art and artists, two multicultural populations, provide a common ground and language. Bridging cultural differences and languages, allows her to use art to depict human emotions, wonder, despair or joy.

    She is an exhibiting artists in numerous regional and national professional artists' associations, including The Razor's Edge exhibit curated by Steven Alan Bennett and Dr Elaine Melotti Schmidt 2020; several juried shows, and 2 awards, at Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, CLWAC; several exhibits at the Allied Artists of America; multiple exhibits an awards at The Manhattan Arts International exhibits of “The healing Power of Art”, “Her Story” "The Spirit of Resilience"; a Solo Exhibit at Salmagundi in 2017. In addition, several juried exhibits at both Salmagundi and the Art Students League.

    Her current affiliations include: Associate member of the National Sculpture Society; Juried member at Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, CLWAC; Associate member of Allied Artists of America, American Woman Artists; Member Manhattan Arts International, Grupo de Arte Internacional and the International Sculpture Center.

Résumé/Art Bio

Art Students League of New York - January 2010 to 2019:

  • Initially studied painting with Thomas Torak.
  • Studied wax figurative sculpture and bronze casting with Oscar Garcia, and casted bronze sculptures at the ASL foundry at Vytlacil.
  • Studied sculpture with Barney Hodes and Anthony Antonios for 5 years and was his class monitor for 4 and ½ years.
  • Welding classes with Dana Parlier.
  • Workshops with Randy Hardy on aqua resin casting and Jason Arkles on Sculpture Composition Clay Sketching.
  • While studying at the Arts Students League, was involved in its governance, serving as a member of the Board of Control and Vice-President for Women from January of 2015 to December 2017 for the full 3 year term limit.

College of Marin in Kentfield, California – August 1998 until May 2003:

  • Studied painting with Chester Arnold
  • Studied sculpture with Richard Hall. The sculpture Department included a complete foundry section allowing us to experience the whole process, from modeling in wax to casting in bronze and applying hot patina.
  • Honors and Awards:
  • On the Dean list from 2000 to 2003.
  • Received a “Best in Show Award” for a bronze sculpture in Spring of 1999.

City of Sausalito, CA, Arts Commission:

Concurrently with studying art at Marin College, I worked with local organizations to heighten the awareness of artists in our Marin County, California community. Was appointed to the Sausalito Arts Commission by the mayor and City council From from May 1999 until May 2003 , and served until we moved to Argentina. As a commissioner, conceived, curated and implemented a program in 2000 to revive the role of artists in Sausalito by showcasing their work. We developed exhibits twice a year in the City Hall Chambers, a heavily used area where the art was displayed for a month, allowing the selected artists to sell their works, with all the proceeds going to the artists. A painting from each exhibit was purchased by the City, as a way of preserving and documenting work by Sausalito artists.

Sausalito Woman's Club:

May, 2000: As a member of the Club, co-chaired the exhibit “Sausalito Art Past and Present. . . An Afternoon Salon”, developed to raise funds for the restoration of the Club House built and designed by the famous architect Julia Morgan. I was able to secure the participation of Walter Kuhlman as the honoree for the event. Walter Kuhlman, abstract expressionistic painter, was part of the “Sausalito six”, comprised of Kuhlman, George Stillman, James Budd Dixon, Frank Lobdell, Richard Diebenkorn and John Hulltberg. The salon was a huge success, in addition to raising a significant amount of money for the club house restoration through the sale of Kuhlman's works as well as other prominent artists in the community, it contributed to a revival of interest in Kuhlman's work.

This exposure to art and artists provided an invaluable foundation for my artistic expression, especially, the time spent in the studio of Walter Kuhlman.

After relocating to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2003, I continued to paint in my own studio, and became immersed in the very rich art scene there. I was lucky to develop a close friendship with Leo Vinci and Marina Dougliotti, prominent sculptors, who in turn introduced me to other sculptors such as Aurelio Macchi. Watching them produce their monumental sculptures inspired me to refocus my work on sculpture.

Although I have always been interested in art, I took a long detour to obtain a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Minnesota and University of California in San Francisco before immersing myself in art full time. I am originally from Colombia, South America.