Naomi Grossman - Tightrope

Naomi Grossman

My wire organic sculptures reference the human form and function as drawings as well. Wire magically becomes line in space, changing in character and becoming messages from within. The wire functions to create a tension- as in the expression “wired”- while also conveying both strength and fragility. The sculptures are delicate and have words embedding in their “skin”. My mixed media collages on paper are about the human condition and connectedness in an uncertain world. These female forms are as much about materials as imagery. Charcoal, litho crayon, pastels and washes on archival paper build up layers of materials, words forming a backdrop of thoughts, desires and longing. The calligraphic line combines with figuration to further explore desires, secrets, fears and longings. These multi-layered works give the viewer a sense of eavesdropping on someone’s secret obsessive thoughts. Whether singly or multiple figures together, these are strong, vibrant women in all their complexity, standing strong, yet supporting each other- searching, wanting, needing, hoping, holding their breaths- out in a world that is constantly changing. No matter the media, my work is about finding strength, both from within, and in community with others, in this 21st century. My studio is in Long Island City. I am a fellow at both Ragdale and Hambidge Artist Residencies, and a recipient of the MARK grant and Strategic Opportunity Stipend (SOS) grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Recent one-person shows include Body Language, Freyberger Art Gallery, Penn State University, and Writing the Body at Queens College Art Center, CUNY.