Claudia McDonough's portfolio

Work samples

Untitled

Wool felt, kleenex box. 9x5x4 in., 2024
Nightgown

Army blanket, camouflage, thread. 56x13x18 in., 2023.
Dirt Nap

Leaf grow. 48 in. x varying dimension, 2009.
Sugar Figurine

Porcelain figurine, fondant. 10 in. x varying dimensions, 2022.

About Claudia

Claudia McDonough is an artist drawn to the interplay of memory, emotion, and material, exploring how each creates the conditions for the other to exist. Materials are central to her process, aligning with the emotional core of each piece and shaping its resonance and form. Her work gravitates toward spaces where trauma resides—both personal and collective—illuminating how these experiences shape us in ways we often struggle to recognize. Between material and feeling, her pieces convey the… more

View Claudia's Resume

Tipping Point

Since the pandemic, and the events that continue to unfold, subtle, invisible shifts are quietly changing relationships and daily life. The ongoing work in Tipping Point seeks to notice the atmosphere and feel of these changes.

Safety Cape

Chrome fabric, wool felt, wood and acrylic paint. 70x72x72 in., 2024
Nightgown

Army blanket, camouflage, thread. 56x13x18 in., 2023
2020-2022 Vol. 1 &2

Books, gold leaf. 10,25x7.25x4.75 in., 2023
Not Sure It's Love

Wool felt, thread, kleenex box. 9x5x4 in., 2024
Mask Red White Blue

Wool felt, 18x7.5x7.5 in., 2024
Mask Black White

Wool felt, 18x7.5x7.5 in., 2024
Letter to the Editor

Fabric, thread on canvas. 18x18 in., 2023
Perseus and Medusa

Fabric, thread. 18x18 in., 2022
Delta and Omicron

Fabric, thread. 18x18 in., 2022

Magic Number 7, Plus or Minus Two

Cognitive psychologist George A. Miller famously proposed in 1956 that short-term memory can hold about seven objects, plus or minus two—a concept that feels both precise and deeply human. This idea resonates with the concept of memory objects in this room. I’m interested in how certain objects—or even dream images—carry the weight of memories, anchoring them to the physical world and shaping how we understand the past and who we are.

Sugar Figurine

Porcelain figurine, fondant. 10x7x7 in., 2022
Cake

Styrofoam, fondant, birthday candles. 12x6 in., 2019
Double Ghost

Fabric, marker, graphite. 72x46x20 in., 2022
Dark Chapter

Book, felt. 37x24x16 in., 2022
PItcher

Clay, paint. 12x8 in., 2019
Hand in Hand

Quilt, rice filling, wood, paint. 30x20x17in., 2021
Socks

Socks, rice filling, wool felt. 14x13x2 in., 2019

This Too Shall Pass

The phrase “this too shall pass,” is a reminder to us of life’s impermanence. It tells us to lean into experiences, rather than resist or avoid them, understanding that both contribute to a larger story of who we are. Resilience grows in this space between despair and hope, where the belief in a better moment sustains us.

Dirt Nap

Leaf Grow. 48 in x varying dimensions, 2009
Epitaph

Artificial and live flowers, 35 in. diameter, 2009
Sham

Artificial and live flowers, staples, 2009
Self Portrait

Artist canvas. 63x18x14 in., 2009
Suitcase

Vintage suitcase, duct tape. 15x20x7.5 in., 2016
Wardrobe

Wardrobe, paint, fabric. 70x50x15 in., 2017
Blankets

Quilts, blankets, embroidery. 15x18x20 in., 2015
Tender Barricade

Pillow cases, sand. 96x21x28 in., 2009

Remembrance

Remembrance is the act of holding a person or thing in mind; it is an active, evolving process that reflects both what we hold onto and what inevitably fades.