Artist Demo with Katherine Stanek
Stanek Gallery
8375 Northeast 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33138
Saturday, May 2 • 1 PM – 3 PM
Come hang out and watch Katherine Stanek work her magic live with some cool art demos!
Step inside the studio practice of sculptor Katherine Stanek in this rare, process-focused demonstration exploring the expressive potential of concrete. From armature building and material testing to surface modeling and finishing techniques, Stanek reveals how technical decisions, material behavior, and creative instinct intersect in real time. This two-hour session offers a behind-the-scenes look at a medium that is as unpredictable as it is powerful, culminating in a deeper understanding of how artists balance control, experimentation, and material response.
This live demonstration focuses on how material, method, and decision-making intersect throughout an artist’s practice. Stanek will break down the stages of creation from early design and material preparation to hands-on modeling, carving, and finishing while emphasizing how concrete’s unique properties influence the outcome at every step.
Unlike traditional bronze or stone processes, where most creative decisions are made early, Stanek’s approach to concrete allows for continuous adaptation. As the material cures, reacts, and evolves, so too does the final form, requiring a balance between control and responsiveness. In this demonstration, Stanek will share the technical and creative processes behind her concrete work.
The demonstration will include:
- Armature cutting and bending techniques
- Direct modeling with cement and surface detailing
- Material mixing, including pigments and additives
- Surface treatments such as sanding, polishing, staining, and sealing
Stanek will also discuss the fundamental properties of concrete, its strengths, limitations, and possibilities, offering practical insights into how to work with (and not against) the material.
The session concludes with a Q&A and discussion of techniques used in works currently on view in ALLEGORY alongside the actual molds and carving tools used in the creation of her most recent concrete sculptures.
This is a fantastic chance to see her techniques up close, ask questions, and get inspired. Whether you’re an art collector, an art lover, student or a fellow creator, you won’t want to miss this fun, informative and engaging demonstration, ideal for anyone interested in material-driven creative process.
Come hang out, learn something new, and enjoy the creativity in the air!
About the artist:
Katherine Stanek is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia where she received several awards in both sculpture and draftsmanship, including the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy Fellowship Trust Award for her body of work. Stanek is the recipient of the George and Helen Segal Foundation Grant and her work has been featured in many publications including the National Sculpture Society’s “Sculpture Review.” and the April edition of American Art Collector Magazine.
Stanek’s exploration with concrete as a sculpting medium has led to her development of proprietary cement formulas that suit her personal aesthetic and studio practice. The result is a sculptural image that reflects the energy of the entire process and the changing characteristic of her material.
Katherine Stanek’s unique creations can be found in several private and public collections in the U.S. and abroad. She has been exhibited in many museums, galleries, and sculpture gardens with her most notable exhibitions at the European Museum of Modern Art MEAM in Barcelona, Spain, and Frederick Meijer Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, alongside Auguste Rodin in “Rodin and the Contemporary Figurative Tradition.” In 2020, Stanek installed her largest public commission to date for the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio.
