Swarm (set of 2), 2010

Nick Kripal

Terracotta

This striking pair of sculptures by Nick Kripal comes from his celebrated Swarm series, originally commissioned for the Philadelphia International Airport in 2010. The large-scale installation transformed slip-cast historical food molds and serving vessels into an abstract urban landscape, exploring the evolution of industrial design, architecture, and city planning through ceramic form. Twenty-six elements from the original installation remain on view today in the Pennsylvania Convention Center Collection.

Elegant and sculptural, this pair embodies Kripal's distinctive ability to transform familiar objects into compelling architectural forms. Beyond their beauty, they represent an important chapter in Philadelphia's rich craft history. A visionary artist, educator, and connector, Kripal played a vital role in strengthening the relationships among the region's artists, universities, and cultural institutions, leaving a lasting impact on Philadelphia's vibrant craft community.

Artist Biography

Nicholas Kripal was the chair of the Crafts Department Tyler School of Art, Temple University, area head of the department's Ceramics Program, and one of the founders of the Crane Arts Building in South Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, across the street from The Clay Studio's new building. He was an active member of the community, a Board member of The Clay Studio, and believed passionately in our mission. He crafted enormous, imposing adobe sculptures and terra cotta pieces that could fit in your hand. He taught hundreds of students over 34 years as a professor. He passed away in 2016, our community continues to mourn his loss.

He was an artist who utilized the ceramic medium as a source for sculptural installations, and he created work in the arena of site-specific/site-related installations that explored architectural iconography as a source for their format. Kripal designed sculptures for cathedrals and spiritual spaces. He was inspired by gothic architecture and religious stories, and the idea of creating something new for all those old places.

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