ARTIST STATEMENT
Inspired by whimsically macabre 1970’s circus flyers, I use silkscreen techniques to create dynamic compositions that confront my thoughts about the current zeitgeist. I often treat dark topics, such as death, with levity in an effort to digest them in a way that doesn’t make my head explode. The works of John Waters and Divine, such as “Pink Flamingos”, influence how I try to communicate my identity to the rest of the world through my art. My personal understanding of society and gender often veers into the absurd, something that I embrace and encourage.
The works I create are in conversation with complex personal feelings about the state of the world, often with a hefty dose of irony. I reference my own body in an effort to feel more connected to it despite dysphoria. My gender identity and disability sometimes cause life to be a constant flow of changes and necessary adjustment, which influences my work greatly. For example, “Metamorphosis” was created after I had undergone withdrawal from a prescription that was damaging my health, an experience that was harrowing but necessary. Other pieces reference past events that have transformed me in some way, such as “Reliquary”, which references my father’s suicide by gun as well as my Catholic upbringing.
Ultimately, my artworks are a way to communicate my identity, thoughts, and feelings. This is especially important during this time of great change and upheaval. I must remember that metamorphosis is not an end, but a new beginning.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
My name is Myrkul Holly-Meadowcroft and I am a queer, nonbinary artist originally from the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. I now live in Crown Point, Indiana with my partner and our three cat-shaped demons. I was raised Catholic and attended parochial school for 10 years which influences me greatly. My special interests are medieval mystics and “Adventure Time”. I can also make a mean meatloaf. I am a 2025 Graduate of Indiana University Northwest School of the Arts with a Bachelors of Fine Art in studio art. In Summer 2025, I worked with Indiana University Northwest and the City of Gary, Indiana to create 5 large-scale murals for the city’s downtown corridor, set to be unveiled in October 2025. In 2023, I received an award for outstanding research and creative work in field of women’s and gender studies. In the coming year, I am expecting to either begin a graduate program or return to undergrad to complete a degree in design. Time will tell!
© Myrkul Holly-Meadowcroft