ARTIST STATEMENT
My art hinges on my process of accepting chaos within the work itself. As I move around a vessel, whether it be a canvas, a sculpture, or a pot, I take note of the flaws that these naturalistic items hold, just as they mimic us, and let them inspire me. I follow my impulses and embrace the ugly that may be made of these artworks. My work is made to reflect my own mental state at the time of the piece’s creation. Due to that, often I retouch my work over and over again until these feelings are fully pushed into the piece enclosed in the media itself. It invokes an odd curiosity in the abnormality of my pieces, which are typically recognizable to their original real-life counterparts but undergo a large amount of distortion as I continuously add to the oddities.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
My hometown and current location is Galesburg, Illinois. A small town known for its large number of trains that are scattered around the town. This once sleepy little town served as a spark of motivation to pursue something that could hold my dreams and my flowing thoughts. I was raised by two immigrant parents and hold a close bond with each member of my immediate family. Often, they are a source of inspiration for my works. Seeping through my works from the hardships and accomplishments we have made as a Mexican-American family.
© Celeste Botello



