Our latest episode is out now

Listen to Kevin Francis Gray: Striding Youth

Kevin talks about his childhood in South Armagh, Northern Ireland, and how the experience of his teenage years coloured his life. He opens up about how his work explores family relationships - sons, fathers and toxic masculinity.

He studied at art school in Dublin and Chicago, before doing a masters at Goldsmiths in London. During art school his work became more sculptural until, soon after graduating, he shifted from painting to sculpture.

A large piece which caught our attention in his studio was Striding Youth. Kevin explained that his idea in this piece was to use gesture to indicate the confidence of youth, walking out of the block of stone.

In his studio we see a series called Fragile Heads which are portraits, but very flawed and damaged. This emotionally rich series arose from portraits he created of men he’d seen in passing. He sculpted them roughly, and energetically, and by leaving water inside the clay before firing ensured that the finished pieces cracked and evoked the fragility and tenderness of men.

Kevin and his wife, Tara, founded Marble Projects to give back to the artist community. As well as offering young local, or international, artists the chance to use cutting edge technology for affordable prices, he helps young artists with a space to work and the chance to learn from the artists in his studio. Pietrasanta has been kind to him, he says, and this is his way of giving back.

Episode 72 - Kevin Francis Gray: Striding Youth

As always, you can see on our website materiallyspeaking.com, on Instagram, and on YouTube.

Enjoy listening. Sarah Monk producer, Materially Speaking