When Susan Leyland was just four years old, her grandfather, a veterinarian and horse breeder, gave her her first pony. From that moment on, horse riding became one of her greatest passions.
In 1973 Leyland came to Florence from Cambridge, England. Five years later she moved to the Florentine countryside near Impruneta. Fascinated by the skillful work of the local terracotta artisans, she began to create small-sized sculptures out of this material, held in high esteem since Etruscan times. In 2000 Leyland decided to dedicate her time to sculpture, combining her love of art and horses. Her sculptures are unique pieces, modelled in semi-refractory clay that takes on a array of natural light colours when fired.
Leyland’s sculptures, which she calls ‘Horse Block Sculptures,’ depict one or more horses in numerous positions, blending with a basic geometric shape while maintaining balance and visual purity.
It takes Leyland about a month to make each piece, starting from the basic form to the final finish. She keeps the clay moist and shapes it by hand, using only a few instruments as she creates shape, form, movement and detail. Once the clay has dried completely, the sculptures are fired for a week in a furnace where temperatures reach in excess of 1,000 degrees.
Leyland also produces limited-edition bronze sculptures, unique pieces entitled ‘Gallivanting Horses,’ which are individually modeled in wax prior to casting.
Leyland has participated in Florence’s Artigianato e Palazzo fair several times, and her sculptures have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Italy and abroad, including the Museo Marino Marini in Pistoia, where Leyland held a solo exhibition in 2012.
This article is published in collaboration with Artigianato e Palazzo (www.artigianatoepalazzo.it)
