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.
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)