In her latest exhibition, Trust, artist Beth Cavener delves into the theme of trust through intricately crafted animal sculptures that resonate with deep human emotions. Displayed at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Los Angeles, her pieces reflect the fractures in modern society caused by political divides and the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cavener’s clay sculptures are not merely representations of animals; they are symbolic figures that embody complex human feelings such as betrayal, vulnerability, and connection. By merging animal forms with human gestures, she exposes the rawness of trust—how it is built, broken, and rebuilt—through sculptures that feel both primal and profoundly introspective.
Each of Cavener’s works takes months to complete, starting from a small model and expanding into full-scale sculptures highlighting the tension between power and fragility. One standout piece, Trust Me, features a fox-like figure cautiously advancing toward the viewer, its pose a striking mix of submission and cunning. This visual ambiguity challenges the audience to reflect on their relationship with trust. Another sculpture, Shards, depicts a male lion made from over 2,800 pounds of fragmented clay, its fragile body a metaphor for broken trust and the arduous process of healing. Through these meticulously hand-sculpted forms, Cavener invites us to confront the delicate balance of trust in our relationships and the emotional scars that linger when it is shattered.
