Patrick Hoban Presents MFA Exhibition at Harrison Galleries

The University of Alabama department of art and art history presents "Earthworks," the master of fine arts thesis exhibition of Patrick Hoban, April 16-30, at Harrison Galleries, 2315 University Blvd. in Tuscaloosa. The public is invited to a reception for the artist Friday, April 19, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hoban expresses the relationship between the fragility of humans and nature through art work that suggests force, separation and compression of materials. He works in ceramic and incorporates found objects in his art.

"The moment when a plant breaks the surface of concrete and continues to grow is a forceful moment with which I relate," he said. "Being rooted in Philadelphia exposed me to the extremes of the natural world and how they interact with the spaces of an inner city. Childhood spent on beaches and by rivers, observing, experiencing, collecting and documenting the extreme forces of nature has allowed me to connect my personal struggles to those of nature. There will always be barriers to deal with, but much like nature, I must find a way to survive."

Hoban is a graduate student in ceramics with an assistantship teaching ceramics and 3D design. He received the BFA in sculpture from Pennsylvania State University.

Hoban's cast bronze sculpture of a jon boat is part of the Literary Capital Bronze Sculpture Trail commissioned by Monroeville, Ala., to be unveiled April 26

His work has appeared in the Tuscaloosa Monster Takeover project, the Alabama Clay Conference, and was selected for the Waterloo Arts 2018 Juried Exhibition in Cleveland, Ohio. His public art proposal for a sculptural bike rack to be installed near Government Plaza, was accepted by the city of Tuscaloosa.

He was juried into the 19th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition in Kansas City, Mo. Hoban was the recipient of a full scholarship to ceramic summer class at Penn Valley School with the renowned artist, Chris Staley, and a recipient of the Emerging Artist Award at Malvern Preparatory School.

To view these students click here: https://ua.meritpages.com/achievements/Patrick-Hoban-Presents-MFA-Exhibition-at-Harrison-Galleries/104125