Demeter
26.5 x 7.5 x 7 in
Italian travertine classico
2022
This sculpture, carved from Tuscan travertine in the golden color of wheat, honors Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility. She was revered for giving the gift of farming to humankind and for embodying the sacred balance between earth’s abundance and its fragility. In mythology, Demeter’s grief over the abduction of her daughter Persephone to the underworld caused crops to wither and famine to spread. This ancient story of loss and renewal mirrors today’s concerns over drought and climate crisis. Ultimately, Zeus struck a bargain with Hades, allowing Persephone to return to her mother for half the year. With her return, fertility and growth were restored, reminding us of the timeless cycles that bind humanity to the earth.