Meet Marley White | Sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marley White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marley, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work life balance..hmm. I’d have to say that’s an area I wouldn’t say I excel in. As a studio artist (sculptor) I get incredibly caught up in the studio and in the work I am making or intend to make. I used to work full time, go to the studio after and spend the weekends at the studio as well. I realized quickly that, although I was getting loads done, I wasn’t very happy. I’ve established that when I’m also going out dancing, seeing people I love, going off on raucous adventures, swimming in the ocean, etc. – working in the studio feels much better. I think I also end up making better work. It’s more a give and take these days. I’ll have periods of focus and intensity and periods where I’m balancing life and work more regularly.

It’s an interesting thing to balance a studio practice and the work I do to sustain myself/ support my being an artist. Doing creative direction work has been a fantastic world to fall into. I want to keep doing this sort of work, it is great for my work / work balance haha. For the past two years I’ve been on and off adjunct teaching at Otis College of Art and Design as well. This has really been the greatest opportunity and absolutely fulfilling but it is also the most consuming job I’ve ever done. It’s easy to get all swept up in it, that’s also why I love it. Nothing is cooler than helping someone find what makes them excited, and then seeing what they do with that. (I teach jewelry making and sculpture)

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a sculptor and I think very much through things physically. The starting point of my work is usually writing and/or conversation. It’s how I begin to feel excited about an idea. This leads to the research, whether that is emailing with a woman who’s doing taxidermy to goat hooves, driving down to Mexico to get lead from sailboat keels in an old shipyard, or more traditional research. Recently I’ve been going to the downtown branch of the LA library. They’ve got great parking too.

I’m excited about a lot at the moment. I’ve been moving more fluidly between materials practice. My material language has become more concise and carries a lot of the narrative/concept within the pieces. I find it really exciting when the materials within a piece are telling a narrative in parallel to the form/symbolism being used. Sort of giving an understanding through tactility or association. Examples- using pig intestine to represent the body and the personal/internal, goat hooves bringing in elements of sentimentality as well as the biblical connotations of the goat and devilishness/naughtiness- also the fetishization of redneck culture, using the language of jewelry/silversmithing when I want to engage with the inside of the body both conceptually and physically. It makes a lot of sense to me and it’s really cool when it makes sense to others.

How did I get to where I am today?
Community is a huge part, working a lot in the studio, especially when things aren’t working, tons of asking for advice/help, making bad work and good work and then bad work but that being ok.
There are so many people/artists who’ve changed and encouraged me- that goes back to the community. When I was just out of school I sent a lot of emails to artists and institutions/museums/collections that I was interested in and It was crazy how many people got back to me and entertained my inquisitions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I always take my friends who come into LAX straight up the PCH to Point Dume. We hike to the pirate beach and then climb up the cliff. There’s a funny and sweet little restaurant on the beach nearby with pink umbrellas and I go there sometimes for a bloody mary or soda. If I’m going further up the coast I stop off at the Point Mugu sand dune and run to the top with whoever’s in the car. It’s awesome to leap down the steep hill, it feels like flying. Caffe Pinguini is one of my favorite restaurants in LA, I’ve had very special dinners there, the food is great. Downtown is awesome and underrated; the jewelry district, santee alley, then get into Chinatown and little Tokyo. I frequently end up getting a pot of jasmine tea and beef chow fun at Hop Woo after dancing or for the beginning of an all nighter in the studio. I’ve only been in LA for a few years so I always feel like I am discovering new bits of the city. I recommend all of the hot springs nearby (1.5hrs) and I love to play pool at El Recreo Room in Mt. Washington. Also get wine at Psychic Wines and say hello to Rylie, anyone there will give you a great recommendation. My friend has this awesome restaurant in Pasadena called Oh La La, a great place to get a cortado after a hike. I love their parisian ham and butter baguette. I had a really nice evening recently at the LA river with a bunch of friends, near the skate park in frog town. If a Wellness Check ( check RAguide) or Tail Spin (at Club Tee Gee usually) party is happening, don’t miss it. Great dancing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Princess Castle 100%. My dear friend and I started an artist studio space in dtla two years ago called Princess Castle. I had been working out of a home studio for a year and was quite desperate for a space to make work in. The materials I often work with don’t fit well with domesticity. This was also a period where it felt especially lonely/isolating to be spending so much time by myself making work. We got a beautiful old space in the fashion district, made studio spaces, and now I work alongside 8 other artists. To be frank, it’s epic. This community has made Los Angeles home and each person in the studio is inspiring in their person and practice. We are really lucky for this, I love this place and these people.

Next person who comes to mind has got to be Ted, Ted Noten. An incredible dutch artist who I am chuffed to be able to call a close friend. As the icon he is, I learned about his work while studying and reached out to work for him after school when I received a Windgate-Lamar fellowship. During my time working with Ted in the Netherlands I developed the first body of work I was proud of (insert my huge thanks to The Center of Craft for this opportunity and time). Ted and I would laugh and fight and make things and talk about our excitement and qualms with contemporary art, we’d listen to Bach and bluegrass, sometimes the dutch classics. He taught me loads about goldsmithing and multimedia processes but what was invaluable was his mentorship, guidance, and critique. Now he sends me these fantastic postcards and I send him old country music; it’s very special to have his friendship and encouragement.

Aaaaand family. My parents rock, they might not always understand exactly why or what I do but they encourage me nonetheless. It’s an awesome thing to talk through a sculpture with my mom or dad. My brother is my favorite person, he’s this insane architect and he recently moved to LA. He’ll come to the studio just to help me work on pieces and to hangout. I’ve always looked up to him and he inspires me all the time. He’s got great ideas.

Instagram: @marley__white

Other: marleywhitestudio@gmail.com

Image Credits
Keith Oshiro