Claudia DeMonte

Square Toe Shoe
wood, pewter
4 x 9 x 3 in.

For the last thirty years the issue of the role of women in today’s society has always been central to my work. Female Fetishes are actual size wooden sculptures of everyday objects usually associated with women. They are densely covered them with pewter images drawn from my personal iconography. This body of work is based on my Italian Catholic upbringing. When praying for something specific an image of the item sought was often nailed to an object or the wall. In many countries, including Italy, Brazil and Mexico many Catholic churches can be seen heavily decorated with wax, silver, cut paper images the faithful bring in hopes of having their wishes granted. These objects are often referred to as milagros (miracles).

Claudia DeMonte was born in Astoria, NY. She received her BA in Art from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Baltimore, and her MFA in Painting from The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. She taught Painting and Art Theory at the University of Maryland from 1972 until 2004 when was named Distinguished Scholar Teacher and Professor Emerita. She has had over sixty solo exhibitions and hundreds of group exhibitions nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Tucson Museum of Art, and the Gerduberg Cultural Center, Reykjavik, Iceland.

For more information visit: www.claudiademonte.com

© Claudia DeMonte