In the studio with sculptor Tony Natsoulas

By Jackie Lee, Sun Fine Arts —

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art has mounted an exhibition of metal and ceramic sculptures forged by two of the most well-known figures in the genre, Clayton Bailey and Tony Natsoulas. The wildly creative and colorful exhibits are a full-on assault on the funny bone, much welcomed in these days of dreary daily news.

Clayton Bailey is remembered as the founding father of Funk art. He passed away in 2020, leaving his legendary works in the permanent collections of dozens of important museums, as well as the Bailey Museum in Crockett.

He and Tony were best friends. In fact, Bailey officiated as the minister of Tony and Donna’s wedding. Tony has orchestrated the SVMA exhibition as homage to his friend, with three of his own sculptures honoring musicians, three on the arts, and three on inventors, all evocative of Bailey’s work.

As for background influences, Tony moved with his family from Wisconsin to Davis, when he was six years of age. His father was a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and his mother was a lifelong student of anthropology. Tony thrived in the liberal faculty environment. “Davis was a fantasyland, sheltered and safe,” he recalls. 

He learned ceramic sculpture in the wildly inspirational environment of high school and was entranced by visits to museums and galleries with his parents during the Pop Art years of the 1960s and 1970s.

Tony had the good fortune to be exposed to some of the greatest ceramic artists known to the movement, among them the legendary Robert Arneson, whose name comes up every time the subject of ceramics history is mentioned, and who is undoubtedly the luminary of the genre. At 18, Tony took sculpture classes from Arneson, whom he found interesting, funny, and devoted to the movement. “Arneson’s teaching method was indirect,” Tony said. “He gave his opinions but left the ultimate creation to the student, allowing a great diversity of work produced in the class.”

Stepping into Tony’s home is like experiencing Madame Tussaud’s on steroids. He’s what Steve Martin would call a wild and crazy guy, as evidenced by a visual feast of sculptures and fantastic art creations adorning every surface. Color, color everywhere except in the studio itself, which is kept stark white and squeaky clean. “It’s the only way I can work,” he said. “I like knowing where everything is.” 

Creating his portrait sculptures of well-known personalities is hard work; sometimes he assembles as many as 100 pieces in successive layers. The final application of multicolor glazing brings it all joyously to life. It’s difficult for most artists to attain even a passing resemblance to a celebrity, let alone a completely identifiable personage, but Tony pulls it off every time. 

Sonoma-based sculptor Maryann Steinert Foley recalls a time when they were both studying at UC Davis and she had to prepare her first submission to a gallery. She was nervous about presenting her work, had no materials prepared, and didn’t know how to go about it. Tony stepped in, prepared all her submission and presentation documents for her, coached her in public speaking, and then sat in the front row so that she would see a smiling face. The presentation was a success, and Maryann will never forget the kindness he showed her. You may hear this kind of story also from other artists, but not from Tony himself. He’s quiet about things he does for others, but he says he enjoys helping other artists to thrive.

Asked for insights into his personal side, Tony said he would never visit a sports arena; he gets bored easily, so he has several pieces in process at all times; and yes, he does have a quirky hobby. He collects plastic dog poops to leave inside the front door of his home to shock visitors. No surprise there.

Tony could write volumes about his many years of sculpting. He’s an entertaining speaker with unlimited stories about his life journey, which he will be glad to relate at his appearance at two informal talks at SVMA: one on February 26 at 2 p.m., and another on March 5 at 3 p.m. with Philip Linhares, the former curator at Oakland Museum of California. The SVMA exhibition continues through April 24, 2022, with the reception to be held on February 26, 2022, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Best to check SVMA.org for more details and to make a reservation.

Jackie Lee is a writer and artist reporting on the arts scene in Sonoma. [email protected].