Artist statement
Correctly rendered gestures, facial expressions and forms are a universal language that can be understood by all, and in mastering the techniques to produce them, my work becomes accessible to its audience. I work in clay because of the subtlety of expression that can be conveyed by a slight volume added to an eye or lip: a small upward curve of the lower eyelid transforms a forced smile into one of genuine joy. We are all experts in reading faces and gestures, and the ability to produce these in my art allows the viewer to connect with my work.
My art makes social commentary, often using humor, or alternatively invites the viewer to contemplate the piece’s story by observing the subtleties of its realistically rendered physical form. In creating these pieces I’m influenced by protest artists such as Banksy, and master sculptors such as and Philippe Faraut, Bruno Luchessi and Beth Cavener Stichter.
Every day, I use the art of deliberate practice to challenge both my technical skills and the boundaries of my creativity. By pushing myself in this structured way, my work becomes artistically enriched and the piece becomes more engaging for the viewer.
Artist biography
Neil Grant is a national award-winning figurative sculptor who finished a twenty-year corporate career to dedicate himself to his craft. He lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts where he sculpts out of his studio and teaches classes and workshops at art centers across the Cape. He commonly works in ceramic, resin, and bronze, and has recently moved into digital sculpting as part of his artistic process.
From 2019 to 2021, Neil was the Director of Clay Arts at Cotuit Center for the Arts, where working with a team of talented people he was responsible for the set-up and launch of the John and Marjorie McGraw Family Ceramics Studio. His responsibilities included leading the team of ceramic artists who designed the internal space, purchasing the equipment, recruiting over a dozen instructors, and creating the programming for the studio. After successfully launching the studio’s ceramic program, he relaunched in-person classes in August 2020 before recruiting his replacement in mid-2021 to allow him to return to his vocation as a sculptor and teacher.
Neil has been represented by Bowersock Gallery since 2018 and has studied under nationally recognized sculptors such as Philippe Faraut and Brian Booth Craig.
Exhibitions
‘I Feel The Earth Move: A Northeast Regional Ceramics Exhibition’, Cotuit Center for the Arts (curator and exhibitor) - 2024
The CLAY exhibition, Cultural Center of Cape Cod - 2024
Animalia, Cotuit Center for the Arts – 2024
Spring Mix Show, Cotuit Center for the Arts – 2023
Animal Kingdom Show, Cultural Center of Cape Cod – 2023
Britbox (three artist exhibition), Bowersock Gallery - 2023
Food Glorious Food, Cotuit Center for the Arts – 2022
All New England Exhibition, Cape Cod Art Center – 2022
RED exhibit, Art-Fluent Gallery (online) – 2022
Terra Form, Cape Cod Museum of Art – 2021 to 2022
The Modern Male 3, Bowersock Gallery, Provincetown – 2021
Interpretation, Bowersock Gallery, Provincetown – 2019
Dysfunctional: A Ceramics Exhibition, Cotuit Center for the Arts (co-curator and exhibiting artist) - 2020
Winter Art Exhibit, Art Foundation of Cape Cod – 2019
National Sculpture Society's 85th Annual Awards Exhibition - 2018
Escapees From A Little Black Book (solo exhibition), Cotuit Center for the Arts - 2018
Winter Art Exhibit, Art Foundation of Cape Cod - 2018
All New England Exhibit, Cape Cod Art Association – 2017
Artist’s Vision Exhibit, Cape Cod Art Association - 2017
Winter Art Exhibit, Art Foundation of Cape Cod - 2017
All New England Exhibit, Cape Cod Art Association – 2016
Faculty Show, Falmouth Arts Center – 2016
Awards
Second Place for Sculpture, All New England Exhibit, Cape Cod Art Association – 2022
Best Choice for Subject Matter, The Works Exhibit, Cultural Center of Cape Cod – 2019
The Fred and Cheryl Newby Patrons Award, National Sculpture Society's 85th Annual Awards Exhibition - 2018
First place for sculpture, All New England Exhibit, Cape Cod Art Association – 2017
Second place for sculpture, Artist’s Vision Exhibition, Cape Cod Art Association, 2017
Honorable mention, The National Exhibit, Cape Cod Art Association - 2017
Most Creative Award, All New England Exhibit, Cape Cod Art Association – 2016
Courses/Workshops Taught
Sculpting Made Simple (ongoing multiple 8-week classes), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2025
Figurative Sculpture Workshop (5 days), Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, 2025
Learn to Sculpt Animals at Home, On-line, 2025
Animal Sculpture Workshop, Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 2025
Mold Making and Casting for Beginners workshop, Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2025
Learn to Sculpt (ongoing multiple 8-week classes), Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 2024 – present
Learn to Sculpt Animals (multiple 8-week classes), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2023 - 2025
Mold Making (5 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2023
An Introduction to Mold Making and Casting Workshop (5 days), Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, 2022
How To Make A Green Man video course, Creative Fabrica, 2022
Learn Portrait Sculpture (5 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2022
Learn to Sculpt (6 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2021
Learn to Sculpt Portraits at Home from photographs (10 weeks) – on-line class, Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2021
Learn to Sculpt the Planes of the Face - on-line class (6 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2021
Learn to Sculpt Portraits at Home - on-line class (6 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2020
Learn Portrait Sculpture, (8 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2020
The Art of Making Objects Out of Clay (6 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2020
Mold making workshop, Rhode Island School of Design, 2019
Learn to Make Silicone Molds Workshop (5 days), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2019
Portrait Sculpture Workshop (2 days), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2019
Advanced Handbuilding (8 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2019
Handbuilding in Clay (8 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2019
Portrait Workshop (2 days), Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 2019
Portrait Sculpture Winter 2019 (10 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts, 2019
Sculpting the Torso (10 weeks) Cotuit Center for the Arts - 2018
Introduction to Figure Sculpting (10 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts - 2017
Sculpting with a Slab Roller (10 weeks), Falmouth Arts Center -2017
Sculpting Realistic Heads in Clay (2-day workshop), Cotuit Center for the Arts - 2017
Portrait Sculpture series (26 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts - 2017
Portrait Sculpture (10 weeks), Cotuit Center for the Arts – 2016
Sculpting The Figure - Scenic City Clay Arts, Chattanooga, TN – 2-day workshop – 2015
Collections
Neil’s work is represented in many private collections through sales by Bowersock Gallery. Notable collections include:
Private Collection, Marjorie McGraw, Cape Cod
Private Collection, 9th Regiment, Royal Logistics Corp, UK
Private Collection, Mr. Matthew McClelland, Tennessee
Private Collection, Mr. Marcus McKamey, Georgia
Private Collection, Ms. Cheryl O’Brien, Tennessee
Education
2015 – Holmberg Arts Leadership Certificate- a four-month program that develops leadership skills necessary to prepare the participants for prominent roles within arts organizations
2012 – Senior Executive Program, Columbia University
1997 – MSc Water Pollution Control Technology, Cranfield University, UK
1995 – BSc Marine Biology, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Courses attended:
PCF Studios – Sculpting the Portrait - ongoing
Cristina Cordova – The Figure in Clay - 2022
Grant Abbitt - Blender Character Creator Design Course - 2021
Philippe Faraut – Figure Sculpting Course – 2016
Philippe Faraut – Advanced Portrait Course – 2015
Brian Booth Craig – Sketching in Clay – 2015
Brian Booth Craig – Portrait Sculpture – 2014
Roberto Osti - Anatomy of the Figure Drawing Workshop – 2013
Brian Booth Craig – Figure Sculpture – 2013
Affiliations:
National Sculpture Society: 2013 – present
Cotuit Center for the Arts – 2016 – present
Cultural Center of Cape Cod – 2025 – Artist in Residence