Artist Statement
I am intrigued by tenuous relationships and the satisfaction they can produce. I strive to visually capture those relationships by creating slightly awkward or off balanced compositions using non-referential, abstracted shapes. I view these compositions as a metaphor for life; nothing fits perfectly but a fragile balance can be found. BioCurtis was born and raised in rural South Dakota in a house that embraced creativity, artistic expression, and craft. His love of raw construction-grade materials comes from his father, who is a carpenter and a detail perfectionist. You can see these influences in the materials and finishes Curtis uses to complete his sculptural work. Curtis’ natural inclination to experiment with art materials comes from his mother who, as a craft writer, filled the house with a variety of art supplies and opportunities to explore. These influences can be seen in Curtis’ proclivity to embrace new techniques and materials throughout his print, book art, sculpture, and design work. Because of these early experiences with art, it is not surprising that Curtis considers himself an interdisciplinary artist. Curtis graduated with his MFA from California State University, Northridge in 2017. During his MFA, Curtis experimented with photography, videography, physical computing, and sculpture, which has become a major focus of his work. Currently, he teaches at California State University, Northridge. When he is not teaching, he enjoys working in his home studio. Curtis lives with his incredibly supportive wife Genevieve. When they aren’t traveling to visit their children or attending art shows they enjoy early morning runs, long dinners, and binging English crime dramas. |