Page 12 - Texas Dimensional: Fine Art in Three Dimensions Catalog of Work

VIRGINIA BALLY

SPRING BRANCH

Virginia Bally began her art studies by attending the Houston Museum of Fine
Arts School, now known as the Glassell School of Arts. She received her
Associates Degree in Fine Arts, with honors from North Harris County College.
Her major study was in ceramics. She was a featured artist in the 1991 Juried
Student Art Exhibit and was awarded a scholarship on the strength of her work.
Virginia’s work can be found in exhibits and in private collections in Canada,
Europe, North Africa and the United States.

With her husband, Andre, she founded BALLY STUDIOS in 1994. This
collaborative team, along with their diverse Art and Design backgrounds, are
also greatly influenced by traditional Japanese design motifs along with those
of the North American Indian Tribes. With long hours of research, trial and error,
and a great deal of patience, each piece they produce is completely unique.

For this exhibition, Virginia is continuing to focus on the development and
evolution of her Mask form. Utilizing the basic concept of the Catrina Skull (la
Calavera Catrina), an icon of modern Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
celebrations, Virginia has incorporated Mason Stains which are a combinations
of oxides, that have been fritted to
ensure uniformity of color and thus
insure uniformity of results in firing.
These colorfully stained porcelains
greatly enhance the vibrancy and
intensity of her final product. The
Mask itself is captured from a
live model using a complex face
casting process. Virginia’s work is
a constantly changing and evolving
process.

The Collector
2015

Porcelain with Underglazes, Etched
Glass halo and Sea Shells
14 x 18 x 4
10 lbs
$1200