Jennifer McCandless

Artist Statement

My current work, which employs a sort of Magical Realism, is a collection of ceramic sculptures using humor and satirical narratives to challenge viewers to examine their perspectives on constructions of identity and societal norms. The pieces offer a social critique of how we see ourselves, interact with one another, and interpret the ills of the world. My fascination with human behavior is cultivated in the study of the figure. The expressive quality of clay is used to take dark personal and social realities and offer playful, ironic or damning commentaries. Our relationships to ourselves, each other, death, religion, nature: these are everyday topics, but are often rather unpalatable to think seriously and critically about. Art allows me to slow down a daily media barrage of superficial ideas and contemplate through sculpture a point of view, communicating, hopefully through humor, my frustrations and thoughts.

https://www.jennifermccandless.com/

Past Group Exhibitions: Structures of Feeling, 2022 Fractal Nature, 2021 Forever is composed of Nows, 2020 Active directions of the mind, 2019