Robert Roselle ... Ceramics Sculptor

The building that houses the Torpedo Factory Art Center   in Alexandria, VA. was actually a torpedo making factory. After WWII the factory was bought  by the City of Alexandria and converted to a gallery space for local artists.   This three level building has more than 70 studios housing approximately 170 artists.  You are not only able to see their works you can spy them working on others too. The place is full of artists  working on their paintings, sculptures, jewellery making, glasswork .... you name the kind of art you have a penchant for, and you are likely to find at least an artist or two working in  exactly that medium within the walls of the Torpedo Factory.







Kia and myself, although we spent most of our  vacation in Washington D.C. itself, we did find the time to stay a couple of days in Alexandria and other spots in Virginia.  There are lots of interesting places to see in Virginia ... one thing we missed doing was visiting the Luray Caverns in the Shenandoah Valley.  There we would have seen the best artist of them all, Nature.








The Torpedo Factory artists not only display their art and work in the studios right there in front of you, many of them are also open to interviews  and will answer whatever  questions you may have about their art and the pieces they have for sale and display.

Some of the artists here stand out for the uniqueness of their work.  Kia has a keen eye for exceptionalism and by all accords, according to her,  Robert Roselle's technique is unique, outer worldly and beautiful.  She had a conversation with the sculptor himself and got him to pose with some of his works (see pic 1).  She also bought  a small ceramic artwork from the artist, something that didn't punch a hole in  her budget (See pic 2).

Robert Roselle works with coils of stoneware and ceramic clay to create his works of wonder.  At first glance most of  his pieces look like just decorative pottery or free standing vases.  On closer inspection you will see a hole or two to peek through.  And that's when the wonder begins.  Inside the insipid looking vases you will find amazing fantasy worlds.  Some have people standing inside looking into peepholes just like you are doing.  Some have figures looking into a sky full of twinkling stars.  Peeping into each of his pieces was like seeing different worlds.




Roselle told Kia that he is influenced by Greek and African art.  I believe he has never given an exhibition in Washington DC, which is a shame as the artistic world at large  has missed discovering him.  However, he has been invited to impart his  unique technique in China  India, New Zealand and South Korea and has travelled to those places and others teaching this marvellous technique to other artists.