JOHN SULLIVAN
MFA 2021
Dysthymic. Steel. 2021.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Moments of trauma mark pivotal shifts in my life that serve both as a morbid source of inspiration and a debilitation. My work is a means of processing these traumas and coping with dysthymic depression, a chronic form of the illness. I construct empathetic experiences through sensory-based affects that are understood through compassionate engagement.
Subverting the traditional function of jewelry, my wearable work conveys the emotional toil of mental illnesses through the visual and physical properties of steel. Due to trauma’s unrepresentable nature, these embodied translations of experience are my way of articulating that which is beyond conventional comprehension.
Put to Rest. Steel. 2021.
Numb 1. Steel, fabric, thread. 2021.
Grima 1. Steel, thread. 2021.
Suppressive. Steel. 2021.
BIO
John Sullivan is an artist, metalsmith, jeweler, and educator, whose work focuses on psychology, neuropsychology, and interpersonal relationships. Working as an artist, John explores the themes and issues surrounding dysfunctional relationships, psychological disorders, and trauma. John received his BFA from CSU, Fort Collins, and his MFA from SUNY, New Paltz. John has taught at Kent Denver, SUNY New Paltz, and Snow Farm New England Craft Program. John is an Affiliate Instructor and Studio Technician at the MSU, Denver. John has exhibited work at several national and international venues, as well as having been published in numerous domestic and foreign publications.
www.johnsullivanmetals.com
Instagram: @navillusmetalworks