Visiting Artist Brian Rochefort
2026-03-01 - 2026-03-08
Brian Rochefort is a mixed-media sculptor whose work expands upon more traditional techniques, to produce objects which suggest otherworldly landscapes through their vibrant forms and textures. Rochefort’s abstract organic forms, rich in textural patterns and vibrant shifts in hues, draw inspiration from his extensive expeditions to remote and secluded landscapes, such as the Amazon Rainforest, the Galápagos Islands, Bolivia, and Africa. Throughout Rochefort’s oeuvre, each unique sculpture reflects a profound connection to the natural world. At the core of Rochefort’s artistic process lies a blend of creation and destruction. Beginning with unfired clay, Rochefort employs a method that involves layering each object with a variety of colorants and glazes, infusing each object with an element of spontaneous uncertainty. Through meticulous airbrushing and the use of proprietary glazes and techniques of his own invention, Rochefort transforms his sculptures into chromatically rich marvels, reminiscent of natural formations found in subterranean cave systems and marine habitats. Central to Rochefort’s artistic vision is the exploration of otherworldly surfaces and forms. His sculptures often feature interior spaces adorned with pooled glazes and melted glass, evoking the mysterious depths of subterranean landscapes. Rochefort’s work challenges the technical confines of traditional ceramics, noting the inspiration of pioneering artists including Ron Nagle, Ken Price, and Kathy Butterly, and cites a broad range of abstract painters and sculptors including Franz West, Joan Mitchell, and Albert Oehlen as touchstones for his work. Pushing his medium into inventive new realms, Rochefort’s creations are imbued with a deep ecological consciousness, embodying the essence of fragile ecosystems that serve as testament to his commitment to environmental stewardship. Brian Rochefort holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, 2007 and participated in the Lillian Fellowship Residency at the Archie Bray Foundation, 2009. Rochefort’s first solo museum exhibition, Absorption by the Sun, was exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Santa Barbara, CA, 2019. His work has been featured in museum exhibitions Artifices Instables, Stories of Ceramics at Nouveau Musee National de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco; Cool Clay at Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA; Regarding George Ohr at Boca Raton Museum of Art, FL; and From Funk to Punk at Everson Museum of Art, NY. He lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Learn more about Brian’s work. The Visiting Artists program is a core part of the Anderson Ranch Arts Center experience, welcoming contemporary artists across disciplines to work on campus through residencies and special projects. Artists receive dedicated time, space, and technical support to develop new work and advance their practice. Visiting artists engage with students and residents through studio visits, critiques, and public lectures, creating a meaningful exchange that enriches the Ranch community and the broader public. Learn more.
