• Born in Zurich in 1969, lives and works in Oberrieden.

 

           Education

 

  • Apprenticeship in sculpting, Zurich
  •  Sculptor’s college, Mühlheim 
  • Ice-carving school, Houston, Texas
  • Academy de la Grande Chaumière, Paris

 

 

          Since 1997 – freelancing in his own studio

 

          Awards

  • 2022 Represent in SIKART / swiss ART archive
  • 2018 VISARTE Swiss, professional association for the visuelle arts
  • 2013 Culture prize Oberrieden

 

 

 

 

 

What drives those who create spatial images? Is it a desire to depict reality? The enjoyment of a sophisticated depiction? The autonomous creation of a body? Or even art itself? The motifs have been multi-layered since ancient times; their effects are always authentic.

 

 

An education as a stone sculptor forms the basis of Cla Coray’s work. Shaping the material which is uniquely able to show our society’s history and culture was to become his defining feature. His love and understanding of stone motivated him to continuously learn to work other materials: It is no accident that ice, sand, wood and iron added elementary materials which can fulfill his demands both by their versatile forming possibilities and by their inherent high quality. He successively expanded the range of specific design techniques and processing methods, expanding the limits of the craft which he originally learned into many dimensions. Even though he situatively works plastics or other non-traditional materials with his assured sense of style, Cla Coray is deeply drawn to materials which imply quality and also communicate through their worthy quality.

 

 

Realistic movement – calm dynamics – grave presence. The objects and sculptures are often based on large, generous concepts, but their story is also told in modestly dimensioned spaces as needed. Masses move mechanically in individual cases, but the subject which has been internalized with fascination is often atmospheric and symbolic. Cla Coray always forms his ideas on his own path, fittingly speaking to the observer with calmness and respect. It is pleasantly evident that the creator seeks atmosphere out of a deeply rooted desire, and finds it in a rich variety of concepts and forms.

 

 

The works share almost archaic and finely structured aesthetics – the solidity of the always carefully chosen material combines subtle elegance with lasting expression. The quality of the creation as well as the material itself becomes an integral part of the object. The design and creation process which requires a wide variety of skills becomes beautiful art in itself. Nonetheless, it is not the linear expression of a statement or symbolism, but seriousness mantled by liberal roguishness which speaks in Cla Coray’s sculptures.

 

S. Kessler