Devin Messmer
BFA: Studio Art - Illustration Certificate
Artist Name:
Devin Messmer
Work Title:
"Second Skin", "Dissection", "Manmade Fantasy"
Medium:
Plaster, Latex, Inkjet Photography Transfers, Rubber Heart, Embroidery Thread, Waxed String, Collage Zines, Steel Hardware, Steel Frame, Wooden Stand, Acrylic Shelving
Artist Statement:
I explore themes of abjection, viscera, and autonomy in relation to the body, queerness, and identity by using a variety of materials, layered imagery, and textures. The central theme in my artwork is inspired by my interest in the transformation and distortion of the human body as a metaphor for the way transgender people are able to take ownership of and change their bodies into what truly feels like them no matter how uncomfortable these changes may be. What one finds ugly and monstrous the other sees as beautiful and revitalizing. With a comprehensive understanding of how gender identity and the body work together I’m able to explore subversive imagery of what the human form can reshape itself into.
Artist Portfolio:
Devin Messmer is a multidisciplinary visual artist from St. Louis, Missouri. He is currently working toward his BA in Studio Art with an Illustration Certificate from Webster University. His studio practice involves using a variety of mediums and found materials to explore the complex relationship between identity, queerness, and the human body.
Artist Bio: