Utica, N.Y. — Munson Museum of Art’s feature exhibition “Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte,” hailed as “gorgeous” and “magnificent,” is in its final weeks, closing Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
“Celestial Bodies” showcases the extraordinary artwork of contemporary artist Karen LaMonte, one of the most celebrated sculptors of our time. Explore the expansive array of about 60 works in porcelain, bronze, glass, and stone from the artist’s archival collection, many of which have never been seen in public. These works not only reflect LaMonte’s life and career but her artistic soul as well. Her body of work connects ideas of timeless beauty, strength and fragility, and the fleeting nature of life.
“Karen LaMonte’s sculptures are nothing short of breathtaking,” according to Stephen Harrison, director and chief curator of the Munson Museum of Art. “She harnesses the heaviest, most unlikely materials to express sublime beauty.”
LaMonte’s work has been exhibited and collected by many museums around the world. From her earliest experiments in casting glass to her astonishing achievements in ceramic, bronze, and marble, “Celestial Bodies” includes works that explore size, light, and darkness. Harrison observes, “LaMonte’s art conveys a sense of connection from the past to the future that transcends time.”
Her most recent sculptures—scientifically accurate representations of clouds—derive from a childhood interest in how these shapes form in the sky then magically go away. Of this new series, LaMonte reveals, “Clouds intrigue me because they make visible the invisible forces of the natural world.”
LaMonte has taken the extra step to think about her work in a more global context. Though she has always tried to work in an eco-friendly manner, her collaborations with climatologists have also inspired her to offset the carbon emissions of her studio through a combination of increased efficiency and emissions reductions.
Admission for “Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte” is $10 for the general public and free for Munson Members. Plan your next visit at munson.art.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact Katie Voce, communications manager, at 315-797-0000 ext. 2147 or via email at kvoce@munson.art.
Presenting Sponsor: Meyda Tiffany Lighting Lead Sponsors: Andrew Britton and David Grey; Christian and Cheryl Heilmann; Allison and W. Keyes Hill-Edgar; Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.; Family of F. X. Matt II; Linda and Alan Vincent Sponsors: Joseph A. Abraham; Cheryl and Fred Haritatos; Jacque and Terry Tolles Fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties; Laura and Todd Wetzel MD; Deborah and Michael Zahn
