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Sculpture by Marla Ripperda

Artist's Statement

Marla Ripperda is a decorative painter by trade and training. A native Texan born in Killeen in 1953, she has painted since an early age. Marla studied design and art history at the University of Texas and has participated in numerous art-related continuing education classes. She began decorative painting in her own home when her children were young. This led to painting for friends and referrals from friends who would see her giant dinosaurs and stenciled rooms. Since 1993 Marla has completed numerous commissions in Killeen, Austin, Pearland, and Houston.

In 1995 she took a class in built-up concrete sculpture at the Elisabet Ney Sculpture Conservatory and fell in love with the medium. She has now been teaching the class for 5 years. In May 2000 she and her husband Terry moved to Lake Buchanan where she set up her studio and began producing art in the Highland Lakes area. She is Vice-President of the Texas Society of Sculptors (T.S.O.S.). She served as co-chair for Sculptfest 2000 and Chairperson for Sculptfest 2001-2003 at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum in Austin, Texas.

The sculpture medium Marla uses is cement mixed with various aggregates in a built-up process. Many flat relief pieces are wholly cement, but larger constructions are applied over cores of Styrofoam, metal wire, or paper. Her work has produced numerous garden ornaments, fountains, and plaques, although the medium can as easily be displayed inside a home on a pedestal.

Marla's work in either two or three dimensions is generally representational. She delights in painting children's room and nurseries where the effect is often whimsical. She cast her first two bronzes in March 2002. In April 2002 she traveled to study Italian Renaissance art in Venice, Florence and Rome, Italy.

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