Follow me down to the great depths below..

Artwork by Serena Allen-Szatkowski

Artist Statement

"My art brings retrospect through a contemporary lens, it blends together echoes of the past with understanding of today. It aims to bring consideration towards where and how our belief and cultural traditions come from and what we make out of it moving forward."

Mythology, folktales, legends of old brings me inspiration and gives a starting place for my own interpretations. I find connections and embrace their context while providing a modern outlook towards old stereotypes. I find humility within the gods and wisdom of characters pained by misfortune.

I want to change the cycle, the reoccurring themes of sexism and victim shaming that still has grip on the modern era. I start from a motif from the past and contextualize it, finding what intrigues me and what could be reutilized, I then think of how I can reintroduce the narrative. I think of how symbols of the past can be altered to fit modern critique and bring insight into how our culture has been molded by our lingering perceptions of the past.

I am interdisciplinary when it comes to my practice- fabric, clay, paint, wood, metal- every material has its place and speaks differently. The subject is just as important as the material it is made out of. A relic provokes the viewer through its medium whether it's wooden carpentry or a resin cast.

Art brings me a sense of connection to the past. I feel drawn to ancient mythology and creatures that invoke symbolism. It provides a surface to grow and blossom from while reaching for meaning that connects my contemporary life with what came before.