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Eli Merritt b.1993, Berkshires MA School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2019 B.F.A. STATEMENT Using the foundry and found objects ranging from delicate fabrics and string to rusted farm tools and auto parts, my process involves merging opposing elements to create a single form. Underlying each piece is the desire to imply meaningful, unified existence to inanimate matter, giving the objects permission to an afterlife. The works are a result of both an acquired and inherent understanding of formal sculpture, composition, and craftsmanship that draws from early to mid 20th century assemblage and mixed media movements. The recognizable becomes the representational, the familiar becomes poetic, creating a comfortable and accessible space for the viewer. The works question relationships between function and dysfunction, regard and disregard, want and waste. EXHIBITIONS "Festival of Trees" Berkshire County, Ma 2018 (Group Show) " Berkshire Music festival // Piano Project" , Tanglewood, Lenox MA 2018 (Group Show) "EXOCHROME", Sidewinder Gallery, Chicago IL, 2017 (Group Show). “FlexSpace Exhibition”, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2018 (Group show) “Pet Project”, Iridium, Chicago IL, 2017 (2 person show) “Lap Dog”, Congruent Space, Chicago IL, 2017 (Group show) “Fight or Flight, Congruent Space, Chicago IL, 2017 (2 person show) “Art is Home III”, East Hampton NY, 2017 (Group show) “Temporality”, Merritt Green Gallery, West Stockbridge MA, 2017 (Solo show) “SAP”, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2016 (Curator) “Art is Home II”, East Hampton NY, 2016 (Group show) “Art is Home”, East Hampton NY, 2016 (Group show) “Menagerie”, Green Street Gallery, 2015 (Solo show) “Tear along the Dotted Line”, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2015 (Group show) “Open Til Tomorrow”, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2015 (Pop-up group show) “New Anatomies”, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2015, (2 person show) “10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival”, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield MA, 2014 (Group show) “Animals”, Art Omi, Ghent NY, 2012 AWARDS Scholarship - International Cast Iron Conference, Scranton PA, 2018 “REMET® Shaping the Future Award”, Runner-up, 2018 “REMET® Shaping the Future Award”, 2017 |
