Alexis Silk’s hot sculpted blown glass figures hang on meat hooks and pulleys, making a statement about sexuality, gender roles and the stereotypes associated with women. The 26 year old artist, who specialized in bronze and iron casting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, independently pursued instruction in glass blowing and hot sculpting while completing her BFA – and the results are impressive.
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Torn, 34″ x 18″ x 6″
Skin Deep, 36″ x 16″ x 6
Her website shows a variety of work including several Dancing Torsos, but for this viewer the Hanging Figures are the most memorable. I am moved by the beauty of the sculpted figures and her validation of female sexuality as a strength and at the same time unsettled as I fully absorb the ideas Silk provokes by hanging the figures on meat hooks.
Skin Deep, 30″ x 16″ x 6″
If you are in the Fort Worth, Texas area this weekend you can see Silk’s work at the Main Street Arts Festival April 16-19.
While making intrinsically beautiful objects, Alexis subtly targets issues, representing various view points both negative and positive on society and humanities relationship with the world.
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very silence of the lambs – gone couture.
This skeeves me out a little.
My daughter and I saw Ms Silk’s art at the Boulder 29th St Mall last weekend. We were both very moved by it.