Artist's Biography
Nyla Sok is a Cambodian-American artist from Danbury, Connecticut. They were raised in a negligent household, and forced to grow up faster than they should have. The oldest of three, they took on the mother role in order to aid their single mother so she could bring food to the table. Art became the only outlet for Nyla to express everything about themselves. Their feelings, their ideas, and their identity. Since then, they continuously worked hard to improve their drawing skills to better communicate raw emotion. During their Freshman year at Western Connecticut State University, they experienced oil painting for the first time and fell in love with the medium. They will be expected to graduate with a BA in Art, with two concentrations focusing on Illustration and Painting.
Artist's Statement
Art has always existed as a form of expression or experimentation. Expressing myself with words was always difficult. I had no say most of the time and had to obey every adult I encountered. I eventually lost my voice and will for myself. Bringing pen to paper awoke
something in me. If I couldn’t voice my feelings, the next option was visualizing them. Soon enough, I began regaining parts of my personality and self for every piece I made. The art I make reflects the different versions of myself that I rediscover. Utilizing digital art, I use saturated colors, jagged lines, and other elements to make playful and whimsy works mirroring parts of myself. Often lively and fun, other times, they can be somber and grim. Moving further into oil painting, my works take a more three-dimensional form as I experiment with texture and opacity with my brush strokes. I apply paint thickly using the palette knife and smooth out the excess with my brush. The paintings typically lean more towards a semi-realistic look while my other digital and illustrated works are more heavily stylized. One key style feels restraining as an artist, therefore I want to establish a connection between all the different aspects of my art. No style can envelop me, so I choose to branch out and explore realism and cartoonism just as I had to explore the different parts of my consciousness.
Artist's Biography
Carla LaFlamme is a multimedia artist based in Meriden, Connecticut. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in illustration and studio art at Western Connecticut State University. Grounded in a profound appreciation for the everyday, her artistic expression manifests through an untraditional blend of painting and journaling. She documents the nuances of her daily experiences wherever she can and implements her techniques in mixed media. Her artistic exploration extends beyond the canvas and is deeply rooted in her spiritual journey. Inspired by the beauty of everyday life, she invites viewers to join her in the magic of the present moment.
Artist's Statement
Throughout my life, spirituality has been a guiding force. These pieces delve into themes of creativity and transformation, capturing the essence of spiritual exploration. My intention is not to sway interpretation, but to evoke curiosity.
Artist's Biography
Born and raised in Danbury, Connecticut, Ian Clifford is an illustrator who uses a variety of different mediums to express himself. From ink, to watercolor, to oil paint, he uses whatever he can get his hands on to create art that speaks to his experience . Ian is primarily focused on exploring themes of gender through his lived experience as a transgender man. He wants to create art that speaks to the human spirit of all individuals regardless of their gender expression. He is currently studying at Western Connecticut State University to earn his bachelors degree in illustration.
Artist's Statement
Drawing something connects you to it in a more intimate way than anything else could. I want every person who sees my art to be able to get something out of it. I am an illustrator primarily using ink pens and markers, but I love to hop from one medium to another. What you use to express yourself if inconsequential to the act of expression.
I focus on interrogating my own gender and experience as a trans man through my art. Art helps me take what I can’t put into words and translates it into something that is accessible to everyone.
I am always seeking to better understand myself. Through understanding myself I can understand others, and my art is the vehicle I take to get there.
Artist's Biography
Iloisa Barros-Barbosa is an experienced painter based in Waterbury. She currently works and studies Studio Art in Danbury Connecticut. Iloisa currently studies art at Western Connecticut University. Her works experiment with both realism and abstraction, presenting her unique stylistic perspective. Through realism, her works attempt to capture the complexity and beauty of everyday life and the human face and figure. As Iloisa strives to present her artworks to all audiences, she also strives to teach younger or less experienced peers or students.
Artist's Statement
Title of Work: "Bride"
In my artwork, "Bride" I take on societal pressures that young women face regarding marriage. Through a blend of visual elements, I aim to capture the weight of these expectations and the nuanced emotions they evoke. I aim to explore rejecting tradition and reclaiming personal autonomy. The piece portrays the subtle coercion that women often times experience in relationships.
The artwork invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of societal expectations placed upon young women. With over exaggerated features, the piece mocks womanhood as it is portrayed in the media. It challenges the viewer to question the validity of these norms and prompts introspection about the true essence of freedom in heteronormative relationships.
Artist's Biography
Riley Weaver is an artist from Chestnut Ridge, New York. Art has always surrounded him growing up. Helping his mom create ornaments for every holiday season and drawing anything and everything he could imagine sparked his dreams of being and artist. These hobbies slowly developed into a passion as he entered his first art competition in first grade. Every year following, no matter the school he entered as many art competitions as he could. He is a recipient of a dual concentration degree of graphic design and photography from Western Connecticut State University. He works as the marketing and design assistant at the Center for Student Involvement on the Western Connecticut State University campus, with plans to further his education with a master’s degree from Western Connecticut State University.
Artist's Statement
Art is the purest form of expression, allowing the creator to express anything on their mind. When we as artists create, we allow the experiences that make us who we are inform our art. However, art takes on a life of its own going out into the world and speaking to people in so many ways. Growing up with the rise of digital cameras and the very beginnings of the internet, I was exposed to a lot of photography and design as well as the traditional art styles. My art today is inspired by the things that I have experienced and enjoyed throughout my life. I want to take all that I have learned from every aspect of my life and apply it to my work, creating something that is authentically me. In hopes it takes on a life of its own and helps shape at least one person’s life experiences. Creating something that is meaningful to others, thus, feeding the cycle of inspiration and creativity for those of the future.
Artist's Biography
Georgianna Eckley is an artist from Hopewell, New York. She grew up in an artistic family, her mother and brother both pursuing higher educations in the arts. She’s been an artist herself for her entire life, with much of her adolescence being spent drawing in her sketchbooks. Her passion grew into a desire for a career as an illustrator. She has received her Bachelor’s in Illustration from Western Connecticut State University.
Artist's Statement
Storytelling is a vital part of the human experience. Through the medium of storytelling, we teach, we learn, and we experience new perspectives. I’ve always viewed my art as my own form of storytelling. Using materials like pen, ink, paint, pencil, and marker, I mostly focus on figurative pieces, often featuring characters or animals to represent myself and the people I love. I enjoy using characters and symbolism to achieve whatever narrative I’m trying to convey through my work. Sometimes my art can be simple, fun, and childish, while still maintaining a deeper, more personal meaning. With both serious and whimsical artistic choices, I aim to expand my own creative limits, and hope to tell compelling stories for the people who see my work.
