THE MOTHERS
"This ongoing body of work transforms the deep bond between parent and child into timeless, hand-sculpted porcelain portraits. Each piece becomes a physical expression of connection, presence, and the strength of care.
The project invites collectors to participate in the creative process, becoming both muse and collaborator. Whether commissioned to celebrate motherhood, mark a milestone, or serve as a remembrance, these sculptures hold a universal resonance—an artifact of love made permanent."
-Fay Ray
THE ORIGIN
THE MOTHERS series began in 2024 to honor the profound, complex connection between a mother and child—a relationship that is both foundational and underrepresented in contemporary art.
As a mother and artist, Fay Ray was called to create space for this bond not only as a personal subject matter, but as tangible evidence of aesthetic, emotional, and cultural inquiry.
Her work challenges traditional hierarchies of artistic value and invites a reevaluation of intimacy, care, and permanence within sculptural practice.
Each sculpture is an act of devotion—an attempt to translate what is most tender and enduring about human connection into form. Through this work, Fay captures not only what is seen, but what is felt: the slumped arc of a shoulder, the restful angle of a head, the quiet gravity of two deeply connected figures sharing space.
At its core, this project is a collaboration—between artist and subjects, between mother and child—blending technology and tradition, emotion and form, memory, and material.
THE PROCESS
Every sculpture begins with an image. Participants may submit photographic references or, if local to Los Angeles, invite Fay to capture their pose in person using LiDAR scanning.
These references become the starting point. The intention is not to create a perfect likeness, but to evoke an expressive interpretation focused on form and emotional truth.
Back in her studio, Fay hand-sculpts each figure in porcelain, working intentionally and intuitively to translate the physical into the poetic. Clients may choose from the range of glaze finishes previously used in the series or entrust the artist to select one uniquely suited to the piece.
Each finished work is professionally photographed, documented, and added to the project’s ongoing archive. Collectors may also be invited to loan their sculptures for future exhibitions, joining a larger narrative of connection and shared meaning.
UPDATES
Sign up for Fay Ray’s mailing list to hear when new pieces are added to the archive and to stay informed about future exhibitions and studio events.
PURCHASING AND PARTICIPATION
To begin, collectors may purchase through the following link. Fay will follow up personally to discuss details, reference materials, and logistics. Together, you will determine the best way to capture the pose—either through your own images or during an in-person session, depending on your proximity to the artist in Los Angeles.
Using the photos and scans as references, Fay will hand-sculpt the piece. Collectors can expect completion in approximately four to six weeks. If you have any questions prior to purchasing please contact the studio: contact@fayraystudio.com
LINEAGE
An image of each completed sculpture joins the growing Mother archive. Pieces currently available for purchase are noted below.
