Artist Statement

My current studio research is focused on examining the act of collecting and mania associated with Beanie babies, barbies, and McDonald toys to be specific. In a world where consumer culture has become a universal language carrying through generations, I am interested in using the medium of ceramics to dismantle and reorient how we understand this process. I aim to examine the complex relationships we have with the objects that surround us, and to challenge the ways in which we assign value and meaning to them. I am interested in using iconic images and objects such as Mickey Mouse, Barbie and other pop culture references to talk about identity, history, and the hunt for a “precious” or prized object. Collections and the act of collecting is a perpetual process, a process that craves the pursuit and discovery of treasures. Is a collection ever complete? 

 

In a world where consumer culture has become a universal language among many generations, I am interested in using the medium of ceramics to reflect upon this phenomenon. Through my work, I aim to examine the complex relationships we have with the objects that surround us, and to challenge the ways in which we assign value and meaning to them.

 

While thinking about the phenomenon of market bubbles, which is an economic cycle that is characterized by rapid demand of a product with not enough supply making the thing extremely valuable to the consumers eyes; in hand makes making that thing “rare” or “limited edition” etc. the beanie market bubble crashed because ty soiled his supply with too many beanies making them too accessible to the consumer. As one who is a consumer by nature, flipping roles and to be the supplier. Creating small batch ceramics to parody to past loved collectibles and making them have value though the idea of “limited editions” and making the viewer a collector instead of the viewer looking into the collector.