Joy Beckner
Joy Beckner
Joy Kroeger Beckner has had a love of art since childhood and is inspired by the sensuous shapes of skin, bone and muscle in human and animal forms. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, and trained at Washington University School of Fine Arts there, she first worked in fashion, then fund-raising, and returned to art about twenty years ago when a sculpture class reawakened her love for modeling clay. She is thrilled to make something move in-the-round and to bring memorable experiences, from giggles to tears, to those who view her finished creations.
Meticulously involved with every step of the sculptural process from modeling clay or wax to chasing and finish work, Joy also hires the best in the United States to produce her vision into bronze. This attention to detail and commitment to creating strong representational work has resulted in many awards and invitations to membership in prestigious organizations.
Professional memberships include: National Sculpture Society, Fellow 2014; The Salmagundi Art Club, Non-Resident Artist Member, 2012; Society of Animal Artists, Signature Member, 1999; and, American Women Artists invited her to Master Signature Membership after she received Best of Show in 1999. The Margaret Harwell Art Museum, Poplar Bluff, MO invited Joy for her first solo exhibition in 2012. The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, St. Louis, MO, features Joy’s work August 23-24, 2014.
Best known for her series of dachshunds, Joy has earned international recognition and over 100 awards portraying these endearing animals. To date, she has exhibited in fifteen National Sculpture Society shows earning four awards including their Silver Medal. Other major awards include the Ellin P. Speyer Prize from the National Academy; six Best in Shows; thirteen Best Sculpture in Shows; and from the Society of Animal Artists: two Awards of Excellence, the Leonard J. Meiselman Award, and the Elliot Siskin Award.
Her work is collected on six continents, by individuals, museums and corporations including the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, St. Louis, MO; Brookgreen Gardens, Murrels Inlet, SC; Fountain Hills Cultural Civic Center, Fountain Hills, AZ; The Library of Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg, MS; the Dunnegan Gallery of Art, Bolivar, MO, and The MUSC, Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, SC.
Artist Statement of Joy Beckner:
Joy Kroeger Beckner is inspired by sensuous shapes of skin, bone and muscle. She models clay into classical forms, which are then cast into bronze. She is thrilled to make something move in-the-round bringing smiles, giggles or tears to the eyes of those who see and touch her work. She first showed in a national competition in 1996. She has earned awards at the National Academy Museum, the National Sculpture Society and the Society of Animal Artists. Her bronze dachshunds have earned numerous awards, including six Best-in-Shows. Art Show at the Dog Show sponsors purchased one for the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog. Joy attended Washington University School of Fine Arts in her hometown, St. Louis, MO.
There are no works to discover for this record.