When artists talk about their work, many talk about going to some sort of personal alternate dimension when tapping into their creative flow. In Our place: to the moon and back by rocket from Romefather-daughter duo Tom and Ravenna Osgood take this literally, manifesting a home environment that encapsulates their shared creative reality as a way to connect beyond this world.
Populated with design objects, soft sculptures and illustrations of Ravenna Osgood alongside excavated assemblage sculptures of the late Tom Osgood, the artworks of our place suspend the viewer in a rich and specific emotional universe that remains accessible through interactivity and novelty. At the start of the exhibition, a large bed with hand-painted sheets invites the viewer to sink into the paste pillows that decorate it. The Ravenna quilt and pillowcases reference ancient domestic Roman ceramic designs in dark blue hues while the opposite wall features floral linoleum that Tom unearthed from a lengthy construction project, sparking conversation chromatic that speaks of forgotten treasures and the banal.
All the works presented by Tom Osgood are those made of forgotten materials. Towards the end of his life, he embarked on an intensive solo renovation of an old property in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The building’s history as a hotel was evident through the decorative flourishes the artist unearthed when he excavated rotting floors, sparking a fascination with these objects and a desire to give them new life. through sculpture. This method of working departed from Tom’s practice, being far less formal than his labor-intensive steel sculptures and oil painting. The connection between this body of work and his daughter Ravenna’s explorations in interior design is undeniable.
Tom Osgood died in January 2023 while working for our place were still being finalized. As Ravenna continued to finish the oversized chandelier of oysters and prawns that float so lightly on the gallery floor, she found solace in an ongoing connection with her father in the ever-steady space of creation.
Our place: to the moon and back by rocket from Rome is on view until June 17 at shape & concept in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
To learn more, visit formandconcept.center.
