The elevation of abject forms fascinates me—fleshy shapes bound within a rigid cage; haphazard fabric, plastic, and paper cast aside in a shopping cart on a sidewalk; overflowing dumpsters. The stark contrast of chaos within a structure strikes an unexpected beauty. My exploration begins with strong lines and progresses with thick paint. Recently, the expression of these fleshy obsessions has manifested into sculptural forms that use ubiquitous materials such as cardboard and found paper. They have even become urban art interventions on discarded furniture in Los Angeles.
The Confine series is a body of work defined by the imagery of soft, fleshy forms bound within the grid of a cage; they explore the inherent tension between the two entities. The wire baskets are rendered imperfectly and, combined with the soft forms pressing through the gaps in the bars and tumbling out of openings, highlight the three-dimensionality of the chosen still-life.
The In Situ body of works is painted on discarded furniture on the streets of Los Angeles. Each piece is created on-site, where the furniture is found. It is documented and left for its ultimate delivery to the landfill. Each item carries the history of its use, and the immediacy of its dumping mirrors the painting process. The ephemeral quality of this body of work is of particular interest as is the public nature of the work. Both reference the performative aspect of the process which becomes a happening in the early mornings on sidewalks and in alleyways.
Stephanie Sherwood is an artist and curator living in Los Angeles. Her artwork has been shown internationally and in the United States, including the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, LA Artcore, Irvine Fine Arts Center and Art Share LA. Sherwood’s work and curatorial projects have been included in several publications including Artillery, Art and Cake, ArtHabens Contemporary Art Review, LA Weekly, Murze Magazine and Voyage LA.
The artist with works in RE: PURPOSE presented by LAUNCH LA in 2024. Photo by Orhan Ymeri.