Saint Clair Cemin creates sculptures using various materials, such as bronze, steel, glass, and marble, in artworks that vary from small to large dimensions. Combining references from ancient Greek statuary, Art Nouveau, and Surrealism with forms incorporated from everyday objects, many of his works challenge notions of use and function. Likewise, Cemin also explores the intersections of his myriad of references, which, in addition to art history, encompass philosophy, mythology, and literature. His works range from smooth and static surfaces to baroque or naturalistic renderings, dwelling on the dichotomies of movement and stillness, brightness and opacity, roughness and softness. 

His first solo show took place at the Daniel Newburg Gallery, New York, USA (1985). Since then, the artist has held exhibitions in institutions such as Fundação Brasilea, Basel, Switzerland (2016); Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (2012); Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo, Brazil (2009); Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Mexico (2002); Hirshhorn Museum, Washington DC, USA (2001); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, Mexico (1994). 

Cemin was the honored artist at the 4th Bienal do Mercosul in Porto Alegre (2003) in addition to being featured in group exhibitions such as Glasstress, Fondazione Berengo Art Space, Murano, Italy (2019); Troposphere, Beijing Minsheng Art Museum, China (2018); Surrealism: The Conjured Life, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, USA (2016); 10th Bienal do Mercosul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (2015); 22nd Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil (1994); and the IX Documenta, Kassel, Germany (1992). 

His works are featured in collections such as Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Spain; Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, France; Grounds for Sculpture, USA; Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone, Japan; Instituto Inhotim, Brazil; Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, France; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, Mexico; Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Museum of Contemporary Art, USA; Museum of Contemporary Art, USA; Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Belgium; New Orleans Museum of Art, USA; Usina de Arte, Brazil; and Whitney Museum of American Art, USA.

Artist’s website