About the Artist

Emma Larkin's work is propelled by a deep interest in human perception and identity; the balance of control and lack of control over everything - one's experiences, one's emotions and inherent cultural locators or features, one's ability to shape and understand the world within and without, one's image, self-perception, and relationship to others.

Emma (b. 1990 Toronto, Canada) is a lifelong nomad, an aspect of her own identity which feeds into the storytelling of her deeply emotional, visually rich, and highly distinctive artwork. After completing her BFA in Painting & Sculpture (with a minor in Philosophy of Consciousness) at Brandeis University, she continued to travel throughout the USA, India, Europe, and a 5-year period living in Istanbul, Turkey.

Larkin currently splits her time between her studios in Seattle and New Jersey. Her work can be found in collections across the US and Europe.

Statement

“My artistic practice is driven by a profound fascination with human perception and its impact on our personal realities, as well as the interconnectedness we share as our worlds intersect and merge. I believe that our collective existence is a complex tapestry of diverse elements, constantly striving to form a fragile unity within a series of fleeting moments. In my creative process, I begin with bold layers of color, gradually building and reducing them, emphasizing the importance of medium, process, and form above all else.

The deliberate focus on mark-making and erasure in my work mirrors the interactive nature of cultural production. Each of us leaves our mark on society, actively participating in shaping its fabric. However, we are also subjected to selective erasure, either through our own minds or the dominant structures that control the dissemination of information and entertainment. As a society, we selectively forget, reinterpret, and manipulate our experiences to conform to a particular narrative. Similarly, on an individual level, we construct and perform our identities, engaging in the process of selective erasure and transformation.

In essence, my artistic exploration delves into the intricate dynamics of perception, societal influence, and personal identity, inviting viewers to reflect on the malleability of our shared realities and the power structures that shape them.”