April 11, 2019

Nancy Pletos, Clearly Spring. 1978. Oil, enamel, varnish, glass beads, other media.

Nancy Pletos places emphasis on the value of structural balance and expressiveness in her sculptures. Clearly Spring closes in on these two ideas, displaying the importance of the two elements working together to create a whole. Hexagonal patterns spiral around triangular ones, creating a colorful display of harmony and coexistence with each other. Hinting at strands of DNA, Clearly Spring not only creates a somewhat botanical scene, but also suggests humanity’s place in nature as well. Though regimented in the choice of design, Pletos intertwines natural colors and floral elements in with her patterns, placing further importance on the relationship between creation and nature.

Nature is a fundamental theme in Pletos’ work. After Clearly Spring, she went on to use the same formal elements in her Standing Garden series, where she focuses on spiraling variations, continuity, and expansion. She creates personal gardens of her own, putting her interest in nature on display. Pletos started at Wayne State University intending to major in mathematics, but earned her B.A. in Art in 1973. She later studied Painting and earned her M.F.A. in 1975. During her time as a graduate at Wayne, she studied with John Egner and became interested in sculpture. She later went on to create wooden sculptures and experiment with other media. She exhibited Standing Gardens at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1979.

This piece was gifted to the Wayne State University Art Collection by Dennis Nawrocki in 2014.

Written by Marissa N. Gannascoli

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