You First
stoneware, porcelain, glaze
12 x 8 x 7 in.
$1,600 USD
I utilize the action figure form in my sculptural work to explore struggles with social anxiety. As an adult, I face difficulties in social situations. Meeting new people, being in the company of strangers, crowds, peers, sometimes friends and family brings about a heightened nervousness that takes over making it challenging to function socially. Even as a child I was extremely reserved and apprehensive, so I turned to toys to keep me entertained. I believe the tactile activity of playing with them coupled with my active imagination helped establish this passion for the action figure early on. There was something about picking up your favorite hero or villain and creating stories and adventures that captivated me. It felt only natural to tap into this childlike sense of exploration and storytelling through my artwork. Homebodies is a series of toy-like characters with skin that resemble wooden slats, heads topped with roofs and accompanying windows and doors. Home is where I feel most at ease, so these textures represent the protective walls I take with me out into the world. - Calvin Ma on his Homebodies Series
Other work by this artist
Anxious Bloom
17 x 15.5 x 5 inches - $3,200 USD
Flutter
15 x 14 x 4.75 inches - $3,000 USD
One and the Same
13 x 16 x 3.5 inches - $4,200 USD
Echoes
19 x 16 x 6 inches - $4,200 USD
Give A Little
18 X 10 X 6 in. - $2,800 USD
Flight or Flight
14 x 12 x 6.5 inches - $3,200 USD
You First
12 x 8 x 7 in. - $1,600 USD
SOLD
Twist and Turn
11.5 x 6.5 x 5 inches - $2,900 USD
SOLD
Thinking of You
8.5 x 8 x 6 inches - $3,100 USD
SOLD
Safe Space
13.5 x 6 x 4 inches - $3,100 USD
SOLD
Passing Through
10 x 8 x 6 inches - $2,900 USD
SOLD
It'll Be Alright
14 x 6 x 6 in. - $3,800 USD
SOLD
Ignite
12 x 9.5 x 5 inches - $2,900 USD
SOLD
Blend In Mini Mask: Gouldian Finch
5.5 x 3 x 3 in. - $420 USD
SOLD
New Growth
20 x 16 x 5 in. - $3,500 USD
SOLD
Chubby Bird: Yellow Cardinal
1.75 x 1.75 x 2.75 inches - $180 USD
SOLD
Exhibitions
GROUP EXHIBITION | EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE
March 5 - April 25, 2026
To celebrate the gallery's 60th anniversary, Foster/White presents an expansive and spectacular exhibition, Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, as we hang salon style throughout the entire gallery. Attempting...
CALVIN MA | BLEND IN: ECHOES
July 3 - 26, 2025
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...
ART + CULTURE WEEK | WITH THE BIRDS
September 8 - 14, 2024
Celebrating the inaugural Art + Culture Week, soar into peak fall bird migration at Foster/White Gallery! Highlighting the connection between art and the natural world, we celebrate the...
GROUP EXHIBITION | SMALL WORKS
December 7, 2023 - January 20, 2024
Small Works will focus on small scale works, with the intention of making art more accessible to first time buyers and seasoned collectors alike. Drawing from existing and new pieces by gallery artists, there is something...
CALVIN MA | BLEND IN: BETWEEN THE LINES
September 1 - 24, 2022
Blend In: Between the Lines is a continuation of my Blend In series, reflecting on experiences with social anxiety. This show focuses more on the feeling of being...