Jacquie O'Brien

The meeting of materiality, textural exploration and intersectional feminist discourse are what drive my art making. I choose societally assigned materials; responding to their relationships with each other and exploring the gestures that come from those interactions. Utilizing ‘masculine’ construction methods and elements, alongside traditionally ‘feminine’ craft techniques, I explore the aggravation of social roles and ideas through humorous colors and combinations. Material agency and investigation are major driving forces in what I make. There are distinct implications within my material choices that elucidate the complex nature of what it means to dismantle accepted ideas about gender, sexuality and identity. Using fiber, plastic, concrete, silicone, tile and wood among processes such as embroidery, concrete casting, crochet and flocking, I create a visual dialog. I seek to draw parallels between the use of these objects and processes and how they can challenge misogynistic social tropes that are influenced by everyday life. This dialog is meant to prompt a gut-response that comes from the relatability of materials and the humor of the mundane. I seek to meet the viewer where they are because I fundamentally believe that art is for everyone.