Stephen Braun

Sculptor Stephen Braun aims to forge a compelling visual language that challenges us to think critically and, ideally, to act. Using the human figure and a dynamic array of symbols, Braun creates allegories that confront urgent issues with intensity. He employs what he terms the “bastardized American raku technique,” an approach introduced by Paul Soldner in the 1960s. While traditional Japanese raku has been utilized since the 16th century for tea ceremony wares, Braun’s adaptation involves distortion and disjunction to question cultural norms. Braun’s ceramic work combines humor and engaging aesthetics to highlight pressing environmental concerns.