Ceramicist and mixed media artist Elizabeth Cohen was the Copley Society of Art’s (Co|So’s) 2026 Artist in Residency at the Fine Art Works Center (FAWC). FAWC is a leading long-term residency program for emerging artists and writers and one of the world’s most renowned.
Cohen creates wheel-thrown and altered functional sculptural work in porcelain, as well as mixed media with natural materials such as wasp nests, mushroom spores and mulberry paper. She continued to do so through her time at FAWC while exploring the natural world of the new environment she was in.
The Fine Arts Work Center is an artist-led organization based in Provincetown and is connected to the world. FAWC supports artistic freedom, nurtures creative connections, and makes possible artistic achievements important to the larger culture. The fellowships and residency support their mission by creating community and introducing avenues for creative expression amongst writers and artists. Co|So is proud to partner with FAWC once again to provide one of our talented artist members with this opportunity.
Note to our artist members: If you are interested in learning more about the FAWC Residency or have any questions, please reach out to us.
Small Sculptures by Elizabeth Cohen
Continuing a long standing body of work, during her residency, Cohen focussed on working with found natural material from the surrounding ocean beaches and unglazed porcelain. She combined these materials to make small scale sculptures evoking abstracted landscapes, which the Co|So team described as “little worlds”. Although the size of one of these scuptures was small, the amount that Cohen created filled the wall and floor of her resident studio.
When looking at each individual sculpture, new textures, elements, and stories arise. Cohen and the team went back and fourth, asking each other questions such as: “Where did the stones and seaweed come from?” “How were the materials dried and stored?” and “How should they be displayed?”
Paintings by Elizabeth Cohen
Inspired by the new textures and colors that Provincetown provided, Cohen also experimented with painting. She took advantage of the large studio space by spreading out large pieces of paper and “throwing ink and paint”, to quote Cohen herself. The movement and freedom to explore her experimentation in painting produced fluid, vibrant, and dynamic pieces. Although different from the small sculptures, all of Cohen’s artwork share the concept of the natural world.
These textures, along with unglazed porcelain allow her to feel the movement and uniqueness of each piece she works with. During her time at the FAWC, she experimented with her usual porcelain technique by pairing the sculptures with the natural materials she found on the neighboring beaches.
Small Sculptures by Elizabeth Cohen
The four week Co|So Residency at FAWC provided Cohen with the space and time to focus on developing ideas, experimenting with new materials, while meeting wonderful people. She stated that she was “grateful for the opportunity that Co|So provided, and will cherish her time at the FAWC as important and meaningful in many ways.”
If you have any questions about the residency or are interested in applying to become an artist member, please visit our membership page or email us at info@copleysociety.org.