By continuing to use this site, you agree to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy.

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF CREATIVE EXCELLENCE 1873 — 2023

Grace Otten

Grace Otten

Website: graceotten.art
Ins: @dykeartiste

Artist Statement

I situate my artistic focus on the selves that we perform, shining a spotlight on our own object-actorhood through the use of artifice and theatrics. Throughout my practice, spanning across sculpture, video, performance, and uncategorizable mixed media, I attempt to pin down the ever elusive idea of the true self and memory. I ponder who we really are as so much of our identities are not inherent but taught then performed. Objects, materials, and my own body become characters on a stage, embracing theatricality to convey complex narratives of existing in a marginalized body.

The transgression of affective materials weaves a rich tapestry of self-reflection and societal commentary that is then presented in odd spectacles of vulnerability. The everyday is elevated, urging viewers to engage with the deliberate artifice and recognize the inherent drama of human existence.

Artist Bio

Grace Otten (b. 1997, New York)(they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work focuses on the performative nature of identity and personal histories. Graduating with a B.F.A. degree from the University of North Texas in 2020, otten is currently pursuing an M.F.A. degree at Syracuse University, set to graduate in the spring of 2024.