ARTIST STATEMENT
This work is part of “Reflections”, a mixed-media series in response to the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Contemporary politics has always influenced my work through social effects and historic stories. Previous to this work, my art-making was largely experiencing an artists’ block. The anger and fear that I felt is reflected in this collage-based series.
As an emerging artist, my work uses the archive, history, and social contexts to create conversations through images. My style is firmly rooted in a theoretical approach to the documentary tradition, working in the moment with larger concepts as the driving force.
The ideas of authenticity in photography and storytelling play a parallel role in my practice, where the camera is used to document and morph to the story the photographer wants to tell, while the narrative is driven by the storyteller. While creating imagery, my work is strongly rooted in research, whether it’s in the community, through travel, or my own history. The work challenges the preconceived notions we have about place, people, and the stories we tell.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Epiphany Knedler is an archiver and imagemaker of American life. As a lifelong Midwesterner, she uses images and mixed-media installation to explore social, political, and personal histories. She is inspired by the aesthetics and geopolitical landscapes of the Midwest, surveying the storied past of bold exploration and quiet melancholy.
Knedler graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2017 with a BFA in Studio Art and a BA in Political Science. She completed her MFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in Photography at East Carolina University in 2020. She is based in Aberdeen, South Dakota serving as an Adjunct Instructor. She works as a Reader Contributor to Sartle, an online art history organization. Her work has been exhibited with StoveWorks, SE Center for Photography, Photolucida Critical Mass, and Lenscratch. She co-curates the collective MidwestNice Art with her partner, Tim Rickett.
© Epiphany Knedler