CALVIN MA | BLEND IN: ECHOES

Calvin Ma’s sculptures are imbued with a sense of childlike exploration and storytelling. His newest body of work beautifully depicts a recognizable figure we see throughout his sculptures, this time as birds in a variety of postures, each with a hybrid human-bird face. His characteristically stunning highly detailed work here showcases his skill through the bright feathers and rich surface details of each form. Some pieces appear to hover or balance, others pause in stillness for a moment. Ma masterfully imparts character and personality into his artworks.

Calvin Ma holds an MFA in Sculpture from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA; and a BA in Industrial Arts from San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA. He shows his work across the United States and has shown internationally at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Berlin, Germany and Saatchi Gallery in London, UK. Ma is the recipient of numerous awards, and his sculptures are part of public and private art collections.

Blend In: Echoes is a continuation of my Blend In series reflecting on experiences with social anxiety. For me, social anxiety isn't just about bracing for the next awkward moment; it's also like my brain has a highlight reel of past social flubs that it loves to replay at the most inconvenient times. Seemingly out of nowhere, these random memories of slightly embarrassing encounters or moments I'd rather forget pop up like unwelcome guests. These mental reruns con-tribute to a persistent background hum of "what if" and "oh no." The sculptures in this exhibition playfully explore this phenomenon, each piece attempting to capture the quirky and sometimes absurd ways these unexpected mental intrusions can echo in the present.

2025 Exhibition Catalog Blend In: Echoes

2022 Exhibition Catalog Blend In: Between the Lines

2020 Exhibition Tour Blend In: Making Home

2020 Exhibition Catalog Blend In: Making Home