I Am Human - BFA Exhibition

Growing up in a strict, traditional Catholic household, my life was a constant reminder that I was not “lady-like” enough. The ideals upheld by family versus my own personal values caused tension not only in the household, but also in relationships. These issues focused heavily on the self - gender, personality, and identity. My work begins to explore the many different facets of what truly defines a human being, while combating these specific ideas that a person can only think and act one way.

I Am Human explores different personas in a three-dimensional platform. Each piece represents a part of someone - the good, bad, and ugly. I primarily use ephemeral and domestic materials such as fabric, natural fibers, old clothing, lamps, flowers, and other found objects to build a sense of familiarity between the viewer and the piece. Much of my process consists of experimentation - seeing which objects speak well together and how to orient them in their new-found relationships. Another aspect pertains to discovery of the self - as each sculpture is being born, I allow the sculpture to tell me who they are. We are all growing and ever-changing beings, and I wish to capture that in my work. While our society is slowly becoming more accepting of blurring the lines of masculinity and femininity, a vast majority of people still believe in the idea that a man cannot express emotions, has to be a breadwinner, whereas women are meant to be quieter, submissive. Each of my subjects may take on gendered appearances and names, but my intention is for them to remain androgynous, allowing these people to embrace all sides of themselves.

In this current body of work, the exploration of a person’s many attributes has been separated, over exaggerated, and personified. They may appear more masculine or feminine creatures, but the ultimate goal of each individual is achieved by the inclusion of subtle details of both characteristics throughout the composition. The common theme connecting all of them are their clothing and somewhat human forms. Clothing speaks volumes about a person’s identity, interests, and history. Thereby embody the past which they come from. Mixing and matching bright and bold with muted and mundane colors, for example, costumes a new purpose within the life of the figure. By spending time with each sculpture, I learn who they are and feel their experiences through the creating process. These characters embody raw emotions and self-expression. They may not be clean cut and tidy, but truthfully, who is? We all have a messy life filled with beautiful and terrible times.Our experiences are what makes us and can impact our future.