Two Women

Saida Fagala

Artist Statement

My works are like moments in my life. Each has its own unique character and mood. I seek to express myself in many ways; forms, colors, textures and shapes.

For me, the moment of creativity is vital. It could come from associations in the past or new impressions in the present.

But it is more a process than an event. I constantly search, drawing in my mind or on paper. I create a complete work in my mind first. I tend toward simplicity in shape and complexity in color.

My more recent works are more focused on human bodies and figures. I love porcelain for my nudes; it has a beautiful translucency and pure white color. Adding my favorite cobalt blue makes them softer and more decorative.

My faces are all different. Far away from real, they can be sad and moody, red or blue, with lots of details, very plain or too grotesque, all with different and interesting lives. Sometimes I use terra-cotta for them because of beautiful color for the background, porcelain faces are more like canvas to me, I can add more color and even paint them, combining painting and sculpting. Each work is original in form and one of a kind.

Bio

Born Saida Hagverdi, Saida grew up in her native city Baku, Azerbaijan ( Former USSR).

In 1977, she graduated from the Baku State College of Arts and then graduated from the Baku State University of Arts in 1983. After graduation, she worked at the Professional Creative Combinat, Ceramic Division as a mass production designer and ceramic artist from 1984 until 1996.

In 1989, she became a member of the Union of Artists of USSR and participated in many art shows, in Moscow (Russia), Baku (Azerbaijan), Hamburg (Germany), and Istanbul( Turkey).

In 1996, she married Daryl Fagala and moved to the United States in 1998. Soon after moving to Houston in 2000, she became a member of the Texas Clay Arts Association. Her participation as a member has provided valuable contacts with other clay artists in the region and opportunities for her works to be displayed in art shows in Houston, San Angelo, Irving, New York, Sag Harbor and other cities.

Her career took a step forward in 2000 when a collection of her works was exhibited in the Anya Tish Gallery in Houston, where different works have been displayed on an ongoing basis.

In 2001, she joined the newly opened Houston Center for Contemporary Craft where collection of her works was on exhibit in the Asher Gallery until 2007. A five piece collection was featured in HCCC"s Craft Houston Show in 2004.

In addition to her ceramic business, she is teaching art to young students in an art after school program of City Art works from 2000 until now.

Her works have been featured in several other shows since moving to Houston, including the Chamber of Commerce of Azerbaijan in Washington DC, Anya Tish Gallery, Russian Cultural Center, and Foelber Gallery and more.

Her works are currently on display at C3 Gallery 3 (Winter street studios), Foleber Pottery Gallery and, Anya Tish Gallery.