Equestrian clown
Waylande Gregory’s artistic beginnings were rooted in traditional monumental sculpture. He was one of a number of designers working for the Cowan Pottery, where he created sleek, Art Deco table sculpture. After Cowan closed, he went to the famed Cranbrook Academy, outside of Detroit, where he had a studio and taught. His Cranbrook stay was cut short when the school temporarily closed due to the effects of the Great Depression. Following that, he moved to New Jersey where he set up his own ceramic studio in Metuchen. He became known for his large-scale monumental sculpture. This sculpture of a clown seated on a horse responds in one sense to the popular subject of circus entertainment, but the neoclassical sharpness of the forms and the pensive mood of the rider suggest his higher ambitions.
Artwork Details
- Title: Equestrian clown
- Maker: Waylande Gregory (American, Baxter Springs, Kansas 1905–1971 Warren Township, New Jersey)
- Date: ca. 1935–40
- Geography: Made in Metuchen, New Jersey, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Stoneware
- Dimensions: H (horse): 12 ¾ in.; L. 16 in.; H. (with rider): 17 7/8 in.
- Credit Line: Gift of Martin Eidelberg, 2020
- Object Number: 2020.64.23a, b
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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Waylande Gregory
ca. 1930–40
Waylande Gregory
ca. 1930
Waylande Gregory
ca. 1930
Waylande Gregory
ca. 1930
Waylande Gregory
ca. 1930
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