10/25/2026
Recently, our Co-Senior Curator, Joshua Johnson, went on the road, joining acclaimed sculptors Cristina Córdova and Sergei Isupov for an engaging workshop exploring the human head in clay through form, expression, and surface.
This quick trip brought together studio visits, a workshop with Cristina Córdova and Sergei Isupov, visits to two museums Joshua had long wanted to experience, and the chance to bring two new acquisitions home to the Figge.
“In a gallery, artworks may seem as though they have materialized almost fully realized. Visitors rarely see the experimentation, problem-solving, thought, and labor that brought them into being,” Joshua shared.
Experiences like these offer an opportunity to approach art from a different perspective, deepen our understanding of artistic practices, and strengthen relationships with the artists whose work we study, collect, and share.
It's one of the many ways the Figge continues to evolve, bringing fresh ideas, expertise, and connections into our work here in the Quad Cities.
Special thanks to Leslie Ferrin and the teams at Ferrin Contemporary and Project Art for organizing the workshop and hosting Johnson during his visit. We also extend our gratitude to artists Cristina Córdova, Sergei Isupov, Mara Superior, and Raymon Elozua for sharing their time and welcoming him into their studios.
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🖼️ Sergei Isupov (Estonian-American, born Russia, 1963), "Directions," 2017, stoneware, slip, and glaze, 96 x 54 x 36 inches, Gift of the artist, 2026.46
🖼️ Raymon Elozua (American, born Germany, 1947), "R&D V," 2014, terra cotta, glaze, steel & glass, 44 x 38 x 32 inches, Gift of the artist in memory of his mother, Gisele Madeleine Baubonne, 2026.48
