ARTIST STATEMENT
My art is a love letter to femininity. I expand past traditional notions of the feminine to explore intricacies of the queer femme experience and appreciate the nonbinary body I inhabit. I am a strange, sensitive being, and my work reflects that. I use art to reject cisheteronormativity, and my practice centers around themes of identity, sexuality, and queer joy. The strawberry is my favorite mode of self-portraiture, and I proudly reclaim the term “fruity.”
I grew up feeling ashamed of my sexuality and my sensuality; in using fruit and other symbols to depict nakedness, I create work that is healing, playful, and sweet. My practice is a balance of precision and play. I experiment with materials like beads, rhinestones, glitter, and fiber to honor the history of craft while highlighting its connections to femininity and queerness. Candy-colored compositions with sparkling surfaces invite viewers to look closely at the details and delve into complex, vulnerable issues. “grow a pair” depicts vulvas masquerading as still life objects. In “grow a pair,” an orchid plant symbolizes my partner and me, celebrating the unique euphoria of intimacy between two people with clitoral anatomy.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
emmalyn mueller is a nonbinary lesbian artist whose practice includes painting, printmaking, bookmaking, sewing, and more. They use bright colors, glittery materials, and fruity imagery to create art that centers around themes of queerness and femininity. Their work is informed by their interest in art history, craft, fashion, and drag. emmalyn is originally from rural Illinois. They earned their BFA from Columbia College Chicago in 2023, and they are a recipient of the Hollis Sigler Manifest Award. emmalyn currently lives in Rock Island, IL and is pursuing a tattoo apprenticeship at AF Tattoo Studio in Moline, IL.
© emmalyn mueller