Jamie
Berlant
Artist Statement
The methods and materials may change from piece to piece when I make my work, but they are congruent in their darkness, humor, and intent.
I have worked as an employee in many museums most of my working career ranging from natural history museums to art museums in Chicago, New York City, and Austin. The way museums display objects to try to explain much larger concepts in simple terms is a direct reflection on our need to identify, organize, and catalog our world around us, in effect subjugating it. I often use museum display methods as part of my work to try to simplify and catalog complex psychological, emotional, and intangible feelings. The source of my work is universal; love, death, family dynamics, and the power plays that develop from these multilayered social interactions. I capture the frailty of life and the body, but try to show it in a humorous light. Much as René Magritte imparts with his painting, “This is not a pipe”; these sculptures are not realistic representations, but are images of intrinsic human psychology.
Follow this link to see a series of monsters that I exhibited at
The Enchanted Forest in SOHO, NYC and FAO Schwarz in New York City.
EDUCATION:
1997 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
BFA in Sculpture, Chicago, IL
1993 Hermitage Group of Painters
Study Program in St Petersburg, Russia
1993 Idyllwild Arts Academy
Visual Arts, Idyllwild, California
EXHIBITIONS:
Gallery Project Ann Arbor, MI
Politics of Fear
Group Exhibition
Gallery Project Ann Arbor, MI
Animal Farm
Group Exhibition
Do Right Hall Marfa, TX
Semblance of Control
Solo Exhibition
A.I.R. Gallery New York, NY
Wish You Were Here, 2008
Group Exhibition
FAO Schwarz New York, NY
Artisan Workshop
Group Exhibition
The Enchanted Forest in SOHO New York, NY
Thump. Wallop. Whack. Wham!- Shhhh
Monsters Invade SOHO’s Enchanted Forest
Solo Exhibition
Evanston Arts Center Chicago, IL
14th Biennial Juried Exhibition
Group Exhibition
Contemporary Art Workshop Chicago, IL
New Talent
Group Exhibition
White Tower Building Chicago, IL
Group Exhibition
Todd Gallery Idyllwild, CA
Solo Exhibition and Group Exhibitions
Francine Ellman Gallery Los Angeles, CA
Group Exhibition
Standard Brands Gallery San Diego, CA
Group Exhibition
2010
2008
2005-
2004
2002
1998
1997
1997-
1993
1993
1992