Stuart L Tessler

Live oak, ipe, camphor wood, pine, poplar.

25" H x 20" W x 12" D

The sculpture is composed of more than sixty individual pieces. The tray containing the various components represents the mixing pot of this country, with diversity of its population. The pieces outside adjacent to the base represent those who are attempting to get into the tray, failing at the base of its steep slope.

Steel,found steel, plastic, brick.

35” H x 11” W x 8” D

Steel, found steel and plastic.

27” H x 23” W x 8” D

Clay, acrylic paint.

24” H x 11” W x 11” D

Wood, ipe, live oak, camphor, pine, elm.

18" H x 10" W x 10" D

The bowl with the multiple components represents the diversity of the communities in which we live.

Clay, live oak, plastic bag, cement.

49" H x 13" W x 12" D

South Carolina finally took down the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds following the murder of nine African Americans in the Mother Emmanuel Church.

The twisted legs represent the perversion of history and common sense in the State's refusal to lower the flag. The garbage bag skirt is the argument the flag's supporters utilized. The figure is a combination of a youthful figure with the older, mature face, reflecting the end of a painful time with hope for the future.

Clay, plaster, wood, stone, metal, collage, encaustic, acrylic paint.

29" H x 30" W x 19" D

The deteriorating upside down flag representing distress,  is attached by rusted chain to the assault weapon. Beneath the flag are photos of victims of gun violence. The weapon is embedded in granite. This piece represents the tragic loss of life and deterioration of security brought about by the injudicious need for sophisticated weaponry intended for military use. The chain, rust, and granite are intended to evoke the strength of the resistance to change.

Clay, acrylic paint, found wood.

10" Hx x 9" W x 9" D

Clay, wood.

17” H x 7” W x 9” D

Clay, acrylic paint, steel, granite, wood, found objects.

32” H x 28” W x 18” D

Each represents a victim of a natural or man induced events. Individuals may be identified as survivors, but they are forever altered either physically or emotionally by their experiences.

Woman who experienced(es) racial discrimination; soldier with physical and emotional injuries; young woman with “casting couch” sexually abused; ill woman wearing turban with vial and pills; native American or any indigenous population; Muslim woman wearing clothing that may represent repression in the eyes of non-Muslims and provoking discrimination; Holocaust survivor; Syrian refugee representing all who are subject to war, displacement , and seeking security and freedom; scars of ethnic cleansing; economic crimes; drought, childhood starvation; gender discrimination.

Clay, acrylic paint.

13" H x 11" W x 5" D

Abstracted hand with fingers pinched, reminiscent of Trump providing emphasis to speech which often included “very, very”.

Clay, paint.

14" W x 21" H x 12" D

With over 13 million people displaced by the Syrian civil war, their struggle to obtain security has awakened feelings of compassion in some and xenophobia in others. There is an abundance of news reporting of the human tragedy and governmental actions and inactions. Locally, there is a general absence of concern or at best, a silent unease for the plight of so many. Politicians have stated their unwillingness to permit refugees from seeking asylum in the mixing pots of America and South Carolina.  This country has received so many other refugees in the past, but has also refused populations requests for asylum, facilitating their destruction by malevolent leaders and governments.

This sculpture represents the refugee “travelers”, an adult accompanied by a child, with parcels on their backs. The abstraction highlights the anonymity of the individuals and the universality of their struggles.

Clay, bronze acrylic paint with patina, copper.

12" W x 28" H x 9" D

WHY ARE THEY SILENT

Clay, wood, encaustic, acrylic paint

13” W x 17” H x 9” D

The symbolic elephant on a “MAGA” red background sports blinders and earplugs. It is further restrained by the bit of the harness in its mouth, guiding its movement and limiting its voice. Upon the elephant’s head is a figure, having characteristics of Trump, controlling the reins. The flag is upside down, a signal of distress; the world, “hanging by a thread”, is upside down, and all is placed upon the papers representing the Mueller Report, subsequent impeachments, criminal indictments, and felony convictions, and authoritarian fascist behavior.

Clay, paint.

10” H x 8” W x 9” D

One may look at this sculpture and simply say “it is ridiculous” and hence its title. There is symbolism to the components, however. The depiction of the Covid-19 virus is prominent as is the beak, which is reminiscent of the masks worn during the plague. The foot and leg suggest walking and the tail is always connected to an ass.

This piece represents “walking”, strutting around but doing nothing and claiming the nation is “turning the corner” in the battle with Covid-19 while more victims of the virus are needlessly dying.

Clay, acrylic paints.

OUR BROKEN, ABUSED FLAG

Found steel, found plastic, steel wire, bronze.

The reputation of our leaders among the governments of the world has suffered. Treaties, agreements, and normal protocols were disrupted and abandoned in favor of nationalistic, isolationist, xenophobic fascist policies that diminished America and devalued our flag.

Clay, acrylic paint.

11” H x 9” W x 9” D

Clay, acrylic paint. 8" H x 4" W x 4" D

With over 13 million people displaced by the Syrian civil war, others from Afghanistan and war in Ukraine, their struggles to obtain security has awakened feelings of compassion in some and xenophobia in others. There is an abundance of news reporting of the human tragedy and governmental actions and inactions. Locally, there is a general absence of concern or, at best, a silent unease for the plight of so many. Politicians have stated their unwillingness to permit refugees from seeking asylum in the mixing pots of America and South Carolina. This country has received so many other refugees in the past, but has also refused populations requests for asylum, facilitating their destruction by malevolent leaders and governments.

 This sculpture represents the refugee “travelers”, an adult accompanied by a child, with parcels on their backs. The abstraction highlights the anonymity of the individuals and the universality of their struggles.

POLITICAL DISCARDS

Clay, acrylic paint, steel wood, encaustic, collage.

15" H x 15" W x 13' D

This sculpture was created during the 2016 Presidential campaign, never thinking that the “discards” would need to be pulled from the trash as the new reality. The yellow “book” is entitled Constitution for Dummies, abridged edition”. The basket also contains campaign bumper stickers and poster. The arm and hand are in a commonly observed position.

Clay, encaustic, collage, rope. 18" H x 11" W x 9" D

Legislatures around the country are ignoring the victims of domestic violence with inadequate legal protections to permit those convicted of domestic abuse to obtain handguns. While the South Carolina legislature, in 2024, prohibits those who are subject to orders of protection from possessing firearms, it still remains that many states rely on the Federal law that individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing firearms. This does not apply to those arrested for crimes of domestic violence.

The torso shows an inverted South Carolina flag, which is tattered, demonstrating the distress the state is in as it pertains to domestic violence. On the right shoulder is an 1840s map of Charleston reflecting the lack of progress toward women in the areas of domestic abuse. The primary colors of the encaustic media are pink and blue representing a level of innocence that is interrupted by excoriations in the encaustic wax surface revealing red suggesting blood. The torso is encircled with the thick rope of loss of control and freedom.

Clay, acrylic paint, steel, found objects.

27” H x 20” W x 17” D

The world, depicted by the torso of “Mother Nature” is inundated with increasing volumes of waste, fouling our oceans and waterways and land areas.

Clay Acrylic paint

10” W x 15” H x 10” D

THE SOVEREIGN WITH HIS SYMBOLS

Clay, acrylic paint, wood. 23” H x 26” W x 24” D

This is a satirical sculpture of Donald Trump as royalty, holding a phallic missile as a scepter and a breast as the orb. Suggestive of the “wall” the back side of the broad collar of his unseen cape is a small ladder with a figure climbing upward but stopped by the roll of the collar. The birds on his head and nesting in the skull give the work a secondary title of “bird brain”. The colors in the flag are washed out, with reduced value. The Statue of Liberty is broken. It is not rising tall and proud, not representing that which America has stood for generations of new Americans and those who aspire to come to this country.

IN OVER HIS HEAD

Clay, acrylic paint, wood, wire screen brass and hardware. 14” H x 10” W x 8” D (to be hung)

This sculpture, designed to be viewed wall hung, is composed of three elements. The wood base is a section of lumber ravaged by marine life and eroded by wave action. The wood is deteriorating, demonstrating rot, which in other situations would be a questionable choice of supporting base for the weight of the sculpture. It supports the portrait of Donald Trump in relief. He has a typical expression of outrage as demonstrated by the open mouth, furrowed forehead, and raised eyebrows. This is behind an imperfect representation of the American flag painted on a screen.

The flag is upside down with only a hint of the color our flag should have. The position of the flag denotes a status of distress, and the diminished intensity of color correlates with how our country is viewed by the rest of the world. The flag is over Trump’s head. He is in, under the flag of the United States which represents the knowledge, skills and attitudes a president of this nation should possess.

WHY ARE THEY SILENT

Clay, wood, encaustic, acrylic paint 13” W x 17” H x 9” D

The symbolic elephant on a “MAGA” red background sports blinders and earplugs. It is further restrained by the bit of the harness in its mouth, guiding its movement and limiting its voice. Upon the elephant’s head is a figure, having characteristics of Trump, controlling the reins. The flag is upside down, a signal of distress; the world, “hanging by a thread”, is upside down, and all is placed upon the papers representing the Mueller Report, subsequent impeachments, criminal indictments, and felony convictions.

LINDSEY FOLLOWING ……..

Clay, acrylic paint, wood, steel, felt. 12” H x 14” W (var.) x 6” D

Lindsey Graham just following the horse’s ass. MAGA blanket is on the horse’s back.

Clay, acrylic paints, nylon rope. 17” H x 9” W x 12” D

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and “fixer” arrested and convicted, was fully exposed

with his hands tied, provided information to “hang” Trump.

Clay, acrylic paint, steel wire. 8” H x 4” W x 5” D

Clay, acrylic paints, plaster. 19” H x 12” W x 10” D

The opioid epidemic that is being acknowledged by our county's leaders has tragic personal effects on many other than just the addicted. The disruption of the family through the behavior of the addicted family member, the perceived responsibility of family members for the addictive behaviors, psychological burdens of the family members, the monetary costs of the addiction, rehabilitation, legal and other medical services can place a strain on even the most stable family that cannot be withstood. We see the altered state of regard for prescription medicines, where previous generations shunned taking medicines to our present-day bombardment of drug advertisements in television and print media. Various states and the federal government have identified the crisis but appear to be reticent to alter expeditiously the relationships that promoted the epidemic.

The sculpture depicts an individual of unidentifiable race with a syringe in his mouth, a collar locked around his neck in the form of a medicine tablet. This evokes the yoke of slavery, in this case to the pharmaceutical industry. He is wearing a hat for protection, but it is too small. The hat, depicted by the Capitol dome, offers little protection, is crooked, suggesting the nature of the relationship of Congress to the pharmaceutical industry. The figure is placed upon other pills, capsules, forming its shoulders. The head and shoulders rest on the lid to a medicine container

Clay, steel with copper plating, copper, wood, acrylic paint. 42” H x 15” W x 15” D

Having thoughts and feelings, expressing emotion, and the ability to communicate areessential characteristics of being human. The sculpture of two figures, each without head and arms and hands are “facing “each other. The gender of each can be identified but the figures possesslittlerefinement.Thefiguresarenude,fullyexposed,yetofferinglittleinformation.The “Not Seeing, Not Hearing, Not Feeling” implies an inability for meaningful communication and begs the question as to whether the impairment is within or caused by other, external circumstances. The estrangement of individuals due to the inability to establish meaningful connections can easily be expanded to groups of people and nations.

Clay, acrylic paint

11” W x 15” H x 10” D

Each of the “heads” has no substance within.

Clay, acrylic paint, steel, granite, charred wood, found objects. 32” H x 28” W x 18” D

 Each represents a victim of a natural or man induced event. Individuals may be identified as survivors, but they are forever altered either physically or emotionally by their experiences. Burned into their memories, they are bound to their past experiences.

Woman who experienced(es) racial discrimination; soldier with physical and emotional injuries; young woman with “casting couch”, sexually abused; ill woman with vial and pills, wearing turban; nativeAmericanoranyindigenouspopulation;Muslimwomanwearingclothingthatmayrepresent repression in the eyes of non-Muslims and provoking discrimination; Holocaust survivor; Syrian refugee representing all who are subject to war, displacement , and seeking security and freedom; scars of ethnic cleansing; economic crimes; drought, childhood starvation; gender discrimination

Clay, acrylic paint. 15” W x 11” H x 14” D

Clay, acrylic metallic paint. 16" H x 7" W x 7" D

Trump forgetting the name of the soldier in a condolence call to the soldier’s widow inspired this sculpture. It is symbolic of all who place their lives at risk, and typically, the old white men who send them in harm’s way.

Clay, acrylic paint. 13" H x 11" W x 5" D

 Abstracted hand with fingers pinched, reminiscent of Trump providing emphasis to speech which often includes “very, very”.

Clay, steel, fabric, stone, acrylic paint.

12” W x 11” H x 11” D

The increasing national debt and its effect on future generations,

Clay, acrylic paint, granite

This distorted figure presents opposing images:  the bald, shaved head is associated with anarchist or fascist groups, conflicting with messages suggested by the shirt and position of the figure; the flag upside down denotes distress; the hand over the heart connotes a degree of loyalty to the flag; the writing on the back of  the shirt suggests a belief in a supreme being yet there is a tear in the word GOD, as if it were being crossed out.

Clay, acrylic paints, wire

8” H x 8” W x 8” D

Refugees are often anonymous, without power, trapped by circumstance. The figures are bound with wire, lacking upper extremities and without facial characteristics

Clay, acrylic paints,

14” H X 10” W X 12” D

This represents one of the president’s favorite and excessively and inappropriately used phrases. He also made frequent references to less fortunate countries with the adjective also used to describe the president.

Plaster, pencils, acrylic paint, steel. 36” H (var.) x 36” W x 7” D

 The greatest cause of death in children and teens is the result of firearms. 2,737 children in the US killed with guns during 2018. Each of the pencils used represents two children who were killed with guns, intentionally, by accident, or by suicide.

Clay, acrylic paint, found objects.

 The “rocks” represent the responsibility Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had shouldered throughout her career.

25.5” H x 20” W x 9” D

Clay, wood, acrylic paint

The figure with a notably small head relative to its body, has a bird nesting in the skull. The fingers of the right hand are crossed while taking an oath with the left hand holding a bible. The Senate, House and Supreme Court are in the pockets of the figure. The graffiti-like writing on the blocks include the following: Corruption, Laws Are For Others, Kids In Cages, Nationalism, Gulf Of Mexico!, Miscreant, Kidnapper, Undermining First Amendment, Economic Terrorist, Retributive Abuse, Anti-Constitution, Nationalist, Ethics, Wharton School???, Expansionist, No Compassion For The Vulnerable, DOGE, USAID , Defiance Of Judiciary, Defiance Of Congressional Actions, Extortion Of Law Firms, News Media, Extortion Of Universities, Anti-Intellectual, DEI , Fraudster, No Taxes For The Rich, 100 Days Of Horror, CECOT, $Trump Crypto, Authoritarian, Insurrectionist, Felon, Liar Liar Liar Liar, Disregard Of Due Process, Racist, Putin ↑, Ukraine↓,  Tariffs, Misogynist.

Clay, bricks, acrylic paint. 14” H x 10” W x 10” D

 There is a prejudice against obese individuals. They are often seen as not having intellectual ability, manual dexterity, and the ability to perform physical tasks. Their capabilities are perceived inversely proportional to their size.

Clay, acrylic paint.

9” H x 8” W x 9” D

The impact of extreme conservatism influenced by the cult-like followers of Trump, distort, and place a chokehold on America.

Clay, Acrylic paint, marble.

12 ½ “ H x 6 ½ “ W x 4” D

 The oath of office and adherence to and support of the Constitution are taken lightly by many in positions of power in our government. The “APD” on the cufflinks represents the psychiatric condition “Antisocial Personality Disorder”.

Clay, acrylic paint.

14” H x 11” W x 9” D

 The fabulist, the liar, is evocative the election to the House of Representatives of an individual who fabricated much of his life’s history to get elected.  More remarkable is the reluctance of his party to pursue, in earnest, his removal from office despite criminal indictments related to his lies. He was expelled from Congress after his conviction on multiple charges relating to the fraud. He was pardoned by the president, the greatest fabulist. The sculpture can easily represent the multiple daily lies he has promulgated since his entry into politics and even prior.

Clay, acrylic paint, paper, quartz.

8” H x 11” W x 7 ½” D

 This Senator is well known. Once he was considered as possessing a sense of reason in the Senate.

Found objects.

9” H x 12” W x 12” D

 Books are increasingly being banned from libraries as they are declared dangerous to the community’s youth. The real danger is present in the banning of books, not their content. Interestingly, the people demanding that the books be removed are the many of the same ones demanding fewer controls over firearms.

Clay, acrylic paint

22” H x 15” W x 8” D

Millions of people have been displaced by war from: Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and now Gaza. Also, people are abandoning their homelands to seek economic opportunities and political freedom.  This has awakened feelings of compassion in some and xenophobia in others. There is an abundance of news reporting the human tragedy and governments’ actions and inactions. Historically, our politicians and leaders have stated their reluctance to permit refugees to gain asylum in the mixing pots of America and South Carolina.

 This sculpture represents the refugee “travelers”, an adult accompanied by a child, with parcels on their backs. The abstraction highlights the anonymity of the individuals and the universality of their struggles.

Mixed media (Clay, steel, brass, copper, found objects, glass, cotton fabric, acrylic paint)

64” H x 18” W x 16” D

Twenty-two states, predominantly Southern, ban abortion or restrict the procedure earlier in pregnancy than was set by Roe v. Wade. The reproductive rights overturned left states' legislatures and governors to turn their dystopian views into laws. The torso of the pregnant woman is viewed to have lost the protections and freedoms Americans have had for decades. The crumpled, soiled flag is frayed, with its colors faded and irregular, and is missing some stars that represent the states. The flag should be draped over the figure's shoulders demonstrating the protections and freedoms that the flag represents. Instead, the figure is draped in restrictive wire and chains portraying the loss of control over one's own body and freedom to choose. The steel and brass structure supporting the torso represents the barbaric treatment of pregnant women and the potential danger in which they are placed.

Acrylic paint on panel with found object.

34” H x 27” W x 3” D

 An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Clay, acrylic paint, wood.

27” H x 16” W x 9” D

Digital print

Size variable

Created for a No Kings protest.

Clay, wood, steel, fabric, copper and found objects.

54 "H x 43" W x 24" D

 This installation is comprised of five near-caricature clay sculptures of Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and five clay torsos of pregnant women. The torsos, lacking heads and limbs, constrained by the chains, copper and wire around them, represent all women who have had, and will have, control over their bodies taken away by others. The loss of dominion over their bodies is furthered by the actions of the Supreme Court and legislatures and governors of various states. The black fabric is representative of the robes worn by the Associate Justices and evokes mourning for the freedoms they and others have taken from women. The blindfold, representing impartiality, has slipped from the female associate justice’s face. The single narrow column is stressed, maintaining the positions of the portraits and the torsos leaned against it. The depiction of the flag is a sign of distress, and the lack of vibrant colors suggests its decreased value.

Mixed media: Clay, found objects, wood, paint, electric paper shredder 72" H x 54" W (var.) x 41" D

 Gerrymandering voting districts has the effect of diluting or magnifying one’s vote. Vote suppression by voter purges, overly burdensome ID requirements and barriers to the voting process by reducing the number of polling places, altering times and days of the week when voting is permitted, primarily affecting racial minorities, the elderly and the poor. The old white man, dressed in thrift store clothes, carries a sign declaring his votes will be counted while questioning whether yours will. He sits next to a ballot box in obvious poor condition, dirty, paint drips, scuff marks, the "Vote Here" sign designating it as a ballot box is torn from a nail holding the sign. The observer takes a "ballot" from the small box on the front of the ballot box and places it in the opening, causing a grinding noise, produced by the paper shredder within the "ballot box". The sign says "Trust Us" but there is nothing about the poorly cared for box, with misleading signage, that conveys trust. That sign and those offering instructions and false assurances are affixed to a collage of state’s laws and regulations controlling voting and a map of gerrymandered congressional districts.