Herlands Jill Artist Statement
Jill Herlands is a self-taught art-jewelry artist living and working in Hell’s Kitchen. Jill began her metalwork career in 2015 and uses hand fabrication to create miniature sculptures. She works with precious metals and raw gemstones, as well as non-traditional materials such as concrete and resin.
Jill’s work recently won the Applied Art/Contemporary Craft category at Babyforest.com and received an Honorary Mention at “Fun House 18” Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY.
Jill’s work is featured in JAMS, an annual publication that highlights the best new work being made in the international field of jewelry and metals, and one of her designs is on the cover of Fierce and Frail: of Beings, Beasts and Seed.
Her current and upcoming exhibitions are ‘10x10x10, at Tieton Arts Center in Tieton, WA, ‘Makers Mark’, Verum Ultimum, Portland, OR, ‘No Matter Matters’, at Gold and Black Style in Milan, Italy, ‘About Volumes’, Contemporary Art Jewelry Exhibition in Venice, Italy, ‘Fierce & Frail’, at Verum Ultimum Gallery in Portland, OR, ‘Act 2: Art as a second Career’ at Peters Valley Crafts in Layton, NJ, and ‘Fun House 18: Art of the Surreal, Fantastic, and Bizarre’, at Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY Jill has a large number of social media followers and her work can be found online at jill.herlands.com churchboutique.com ahalife.com, at Church @jillherlandsBoutique, West Hollywood, CA and at Dreams On Air, New York, NY
Jill Herlands
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(Photos: Thomas Ma)
Q: Tell us about how you became an artist working in the field of jewelry.
After teaching myself about the science behind metalworking, I became obsessed with the manipulation of raw materials. My technique of choice is hand fabrication, and I consciously disregard the traditional.
Instead, I use unorthodox combinations of precious metals, rough gemstones, concrete and resin to create tension and expose the unexpected. I thrive in an atmosphere of controlled chaos, while allowing the materials to dictate the final outcome of my work.
I thrive in an atmosphere of controlled chaos
I draw my inspiration from New York City’s textures, architecture, concrete and steel. While manipulating raw material, I look for contrasts, empty contours and visible and imagined boundaries, which allows me to conceptualize the shape within.
I am fascinated that metal can change so drastically from smooth and industrial in appearance to an intriguing organic form bearing no resemblance to the original. It is as if an object not only assumes a second life but reveals its true identity. My attitude towards life is decidedly non-conformist, and so is my art.
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Learn More
@jillherlands
jill.herlands.com
With love,
FWO
