Elise Hejlik
BFA: Graphic Design - Double Major in BA: Interactive Digital Media
Artist Name:
Elise Hejlik
Work Title:
Cycle of Poverty
Medium:
Cardboard, fabric, glass, pennies, side table, lamp, and envelopes
Artist Statement:
What initially appears to be a quiet living room setting, is composed of information visualization, with each collage element representing how people are affected by the cycle of poverty. The cycle of poverty is a self-perpetuating pattern where individuals born into poverty lack the resources to escape it, passing this economic, social, and psychological disadvantage to the next generation. This piece allows me to spread awareness on some basic statistics and structural conditions that shine a light on poverty and the economic practices that feed into it.
These statistics come directly from the United States Census Bureau with the information presented being from 2024. Breaking down this installation into four pieces, with the first piece being the couch. The couch represents the total number of people living in poverty within the United States, with each cloth tile representing 100,000 people with the total being 43,984,773 million people. Then the rug represents people without insurance and is made from envelopes that have been weaved together, with each one representing 100,000 people, with the total number being 27,277,379 million people. The lamp shade is created with glass, some pieces stained, and others not. This represents the annual income a single person would have to make to be considered for government assistance. Each piece of glass represents $100 with the total being $16,320. The last piece is a night stand covered with pennies and represents the annual income a family of four would have to make to qualify for assistance programs. Each penny that is stacked, represents $100, with the total being $31,812.
In the end, this installation emphasizes the human weight behind numerical data, turning statistics into something that can be physically seen and emotionally felt. By placing these figures within an intimate living space, it reveals how poverty is not just a condition, but an environment that surrounds and defines daily life. The work ultimately calls attention to the persistence of these inequities, encouraging viewers to move beyond awareness and consider the structural conditions that allow it to continue.
Artist Bio:
Elise Hejlik’s work entails crafting interactive and informative designs through color, shape, imagery, and concept. She is a graphic and UX/UI designer whose work bridges the gap between visual language and functionality. Beyond aesthetics, her approach to graphic design is driven by a problem-solving mindset, her ability to experiment and try new things, and a passion for user experiences for how people approach and interact with the world around them.
Throughout her work she focuses on themes such as the environment, systemic issues, and playful design concepts from thank-you cards to magazines. The purpose of her work stems from driving awareness on issues she finds important in the modern world in which we live. She responds to these issues through her work as she deals with information visualization that not only captivates viewers, but also informs them on issues that impact everyday people and animals.
Artist Portfolio: