Tena Saw (b. 1965; Houston, TX)

Tena Saw’s ceramic sculptures, paintings, and works on paper are united by an open approach to composition, reference, and gesture.

His paintings on linen and sculptures incorporating ceramics include printed marks, found objects, and torn posters. Starting from an application of appropriation, manipulation, and transformation, the artist’s practice is both conceptually rigorous and open to unforeseen outcomes and even humor. A contrasting mix of visible details and embedded or hidden aspects characterizes each work. His works on paper comprise spray-paint concealing details of the found catalogue pages, and in the artist’s large-scale paintings, repeating forms resembling printed or stenciled motifs mix with gestural graffiti and collaged fragments originally torn from posters.

Tena Saw’s works combine ancient and contemporary references and techniques in ways that are both compelling and unprecedented.

Saw lives and works in New York City.

CV

Tena Saw

Siren Helmet, 2025

ceramic, wood, poster, mixed media

32 x 22 x 32 in (81.28 x 55.88 x 81.28 cm)


Tena Saw

Agayla, 2025

Acrylic and inkjet on linen

72 x 54 in (182.88 x 137.16 cm)


Tena Saw

Untitled, 2012

Acrylic on canvas

54 x 50 in (137.16 x 127 cm)