Beau Raymond
Beau Raymond is a versatile ceramicist producing a wide-ranging body of sculpture and functional pottery rich with humor. He sculpts, he paints his pots, and he alters functional forms to sit somewhere in between, producing bold caricatures alongside more subtly disturbing objects. Beyond the goal creating laughter, Beau employs social commentary and self-deprecation for an added layer of meaning.
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Beau Raymond at MudFire
Gallery group show Creatures of the Night, August 2011
Beau Raymond Artist Bio
Beau Raymond was born in Cut Off, Louisiana. Yes, Cut Off was the name of his hometown,a small Cajun area located on the bayous of Lafourche Parish Louisiana. It is a productive fishing area rich in culture and heritage. Great food, great drink, and great people surrounded him. Hard-working, fun-loving individuals who believed in working hard and playing even harder. Social interactions and gatherings were common events among family and friends. This is an ongoing and important aspect to Beau's life and work.He often ventured out of the bayous and into the city of New Orleans where his eyes were exposed to, let's say, a plethora of visual stimuli. Between Voodoo, Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street there were few dull moments.
Beau, like most kids during the 1980's, became influenced by television, comic books and movies. They became the vital source of his aesthetic foundation. When Beau was young, his mother worked for video stores and he was given access to a multitude of movies. It was his own private collection of sorts. His mother was a lover of horror films, and as a result, he became one as well. Beau became fascinated by the absurd and ridiculous qualities of horror and b-movies.
Beau's work today attempts to reflect upon the inspirational art from his childhood. Works of Robert Crumb, Mad Magazine, Garbage Pail Kids and John Carpenter inspire and drive his art to question societal norms and the humor within our daily lives.
Beau Raymond Artist Statement
Are you laughing? Well, I hope so. . .
Humor is a device used for centuries to relieve stress, anger and as a means to speak out about controversial social issues in a non-violent manner. Comedians such as Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, Rodney Dangerfield and Dave Chappelle used their comedic genius to speak out on behalf of the everyday individual. The comic stands on stage demanding the attention of his audience, much like a sculpture sits on its pedestal. Yet the comic speaks to its audience using the most abundant comedic material, our everyday human follies
It is my intent to first entertain the audience with a punch line, a visual signifier that induces laughter. Once laughing, I attempt to inform the viewer of the social commentary present in each work. I use self-deprecation in order for my audience to identify with my work. It is the humor in my own actions that allow me to observe the folly of others.
I only ask my audience to laugh with or at me, and for that moment, they no longer think about life as stressful but find the humor in it. Even if it is only for that moment, we can say, damn that's funny and laugh together.
