ARTIST STATEMENT
I reimagine materials allowing them to speak and evolve in their unique ways. Discarded and broken elements are not mere objects, but potential waiting to be born anew. My artistic practice recognizes the inherent essence within all objects and materials. Through this lens, I explore the uncanny connections between nature’s resilience and the human body & spirit’s capacity for transformation after distressing events. Utilizing techniques such as expanded painting, collage, craft, sculpture, and installation, I breathe new life into these materials. Embroidery and collaged patchwork become acts of dialogue with the materials, weaving narratives of regeneration and renewal. The lengthy process of sewing and embroidering becomes a meditative space where I can connect deeply with the material. Sculptures crafted with holographic fabric, sequins, and stitched wounds, become seeds waiting to be planted in a new environment and expand out into our human reality for interaction. My work is biomorphic, colorful, chaotic, much like the natural world. It changes and evolves continuously and inevitably. Through my art, I invite viewers to rediscover our inherent connection to the natural world, reminding them of that symbiotic relationship. It is a call to action, urging us to nurture the spirits within ourselves and our surroundings, as we collectively strive towards a more sustainable and harmonious existence.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Hailing from rural upstate New York, artist Catherine Spencer transforms her pain paired with her childhood fascination with nature into captivating soft sculptures. Armed with a BFA from Alfred University and an MFA from Syracuse University, Spencer’s artistic journey has been enriched by prestigious residencies like the Chautauqua School of Art Residency and Turner Residency in Los Angeles.
© Catherine Spencer