ARTIST STATEMENT
My personal work focuses on topics of nostalgia and the psychological + female experience. I challenge myself to express big feelings, memories, people, or experiences through a formalist style that somewhat/totally disguises the subject. Each piece I create is deeply personal, and my work becomes a window to my mind – albeit a window with frosted glass at times. When I cannot quite verbalize intense feelings of the unknown, confusion and uncertainty, emptiness, or even love, I turn to my studio materials so I can communicate through creation rather than conversation. I feel my work adapts and changes with the timeline of my mental state – I may start a piece in a moment of despair but finish it during a point of clarity. This allows my mind to play an important role in the creative process, and I attempt to redirect my emotions into motivation. Art is what keeps me sane — and a little insane, right?
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jillian Bridgeman is a visual artist based in Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland. She primarily works in painting and collage but enjoys experimenting with other media. She is passionate about art + education, growing the arts community around her, and her dog named Frida (you can guess her namesake). Count her in for good pizza, painting, and paranormal shows.
Jillian earned her BFA in Studio Art from DePaul University in Chicago and currently works as a Program Director of a nonprofit art center in Northwest Indiana.
© Jillian Bridgeman