Artist Bio: Shoshana Kuklin is an artist and musician originally from southern California. She is self taught and primarily works in illustration. Her work has been shown in galleries like Information Space in Philadelphia. As a performer she has played shows across the country in DIY spaces and venues such as Johnny Brenda’s, Vox Populi and Philamoca in Philadelphia. She currently lives and works in Philadelphia, PA.
Artist Statement: As an artist, my intention is to make drawings that speak to something both beautiful and true. My drawings are an extension of myself: an offering to the world and those I love as well as a diary and tool in self creation and reflection. I am interested in the feeling of things being just out of reach but in plain sight. The use of a personal language of symbols creates and obscures meaning to the viewer, further holding contradictions in the work. The layout of my drawings often have negative space, repeating elements, windows to different worlds allowing the viewer to feel the off kilter and loping sense of balance that comes with having a body that you don’t agree with. Careful line work and use of light and shadow capture the fleeting beauty of the ephemeral and create a sense of wonder and care for the subject matter which might otherwise seem anywhere from mundane to macabre. I use a queer approach to drawing, in which I organically allow the image to take shape, rather than starting with a plan.