Kina Crow

I don't know who I am, and I'm confused about what the outside world has told me to be, because I don't think it knows either. My inner world is wild. Inside it, I'm free, I'm brave and I'm kind of a badass. But the outside world is formidable. It feels awkward. An uncomfortable fit that consistently whispers, "You don't belong here." My work is a bridge between these worlds. A conversation that examines what I find to be real and true about being human, and what is societal fabrication. I create charming clay characters who laugh at themselves first, before anyone else has a chance to. And who sneak wisdom with their wit, into a ridiculous world that so desperately wants to be taken seriously.

My current body of work is a combination of both small clay sculptures and two- dimensional mixed media panels. The surfaces are built up to a high relief texture, typically using both textured wall papers and a plaster-based compound that is painted with acrylics and compatible mediums. These panels serve as a backdrop, or scene, for a hand sculpted ceramic figure or object that rests into a niche built in the panel. My interest in human behavior and the desire to keep a watchful eye on my own mind, are both the inspiration for my work itself and the pursuit of an artistic life. My works are often tinged with a humorous slant or directed toward introspection and the sublime. I am not as interested in offering a narrative as I am in creating a dialogue. I want to entice the viewer into a discussion with themselves regarding the human experience. Constant discovery is an anchor in my process as I am a self-taught artist. The rudimentary nature of my pieces and a raw and primal quality are central to my work. It is essential that my child-like objects reflect a youthful naivete and innocence so that my artwork may expose the secret little spaces of the mind in a fun and playful way.