Artist

Mary Merkel-Hess

born Waterloo, IA 1949
Media - portrait_image_114798.jpg - 90472
Image courtesy of the artist
Born
Waterloo, Iowa, United States
Active in
  • Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Cairo, Egypt
Biography

Mary Merkel-Hess grew up in the farmlands of Iowa, where she still lives and works. Her interests varied in school and she completed several degrees over twelve years. Studying both fine arts, like metalsmithing and fiber, and social sciences for her undergraduate degrees, Merkel-Hess's studies culminated with an MFA in metalsmithing from the University of Iowa. She worked for some time in both metal and fiber, maintaining separate studios for each, and slowly shifted her attention to creating what she calls "landscape reports" in fiber. Working with reeds, paper cords, and a mixture similar to papier-mâché, Merkel-Hess creates sculptural basket-like forms inspired by the natural surroundings in Iowa.

Works by this artist (5 items)

Byron Temple, #41 Jar with Loop, 1996, glazed wood fired stoneware, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Thomas Y.C. Chock, 1997.8A-B
#41 Jar with Loop
Date1996
glazed wood fired stoneware
On view
Byron Temple, Teapot, 1998, glazed stoneware and metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Eleanor T. and Samuel J. Rosenfeld, 1998.110.1A-B
Teapot
Date1998
glazed stoneware and metal
On view
Byron Temple, Untitled, 1992, clay, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Diane and Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2001.71.15A-B
Untitled
Date1992
clay
Not on view
Byron Temple, Untitled (Lidded Jar), 1987, clay, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Diane and Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2001.71.5A-B
Untitled (Lidded Jar)
Date1987
clay
Not on view