bio
Emily Rice (b. 1993, Birmingham, AL) is an interdisciplinary artist based in the Southeastern US. They explore post-apocalyptic fragmentation and sustainable resurrection through a queer futuristic lens. Materials they handle remain in such a world: plastic, textiles, plants, wax, wood, cement, soil, ceramic, plaster, iron, and found objects. Through drawing, painting, digital media, sculpture, and installation, they elevate materials into realms of animism and myth. Investigating and reshaping torn, broken, and dead materials is their alchemical method for transfiguration and a way to gather time together. Their works are manifestations of a believed and beloved reality, examining the fascia between relationships and time.
statement
Ideas and spirits intertwine with materials. I make sculptural drawings guided by a deep dedication to belief and desire for sustainability. Through a patient and meticulous process, I find meaning in the intricate layering of objects, locations, cultural heritage, queerness, sexuality, and personal convictions. By transforming a diverse range of materials, including plastics, textiles, wax, wood, cement, soil, ceramic, plaster, iron, and found objects, I establish an intimate and essential relationship between myself and the materials I use.
In recent years, I have sought out deeper connections with the landscape and its elements. Repetitively making is a transcendent experience, allowing communication with spirits and entities beyond my own consciousness. Through this laborious process, I gain a deeper understanding of the transparent presence I leave behind in materials while they, in turn, reveal their unique essence. This creative process is not just about making; it is a spiritual practice reinforcing my beliefs and understanding of the world beyond the physical realm.
As an artist, I am fascinated by the relationship between place, space, and materials. Believing in the necessity of collaborative learning and collaborative making, I strive to intimately bond with the materials I use to fully consider their agency. I hope to promote a type of radical knowledge exchange and tender community care. My practice is a method for hopeful dreaming to critically assess how things are and collectively work towards a different possible outcome. It is a call to action through the crafted and found.