"My materials for pieces have been collected and curated over the span of a lifetime spent waiting for the perfect piece. As I grow older and the world becomes increasingly more complicated, I look to create beautiful and simple forms. In a world of sensory overload and social media, I encourage myself to always give a quiet moment to sit and reflect. A moment to focus on the overlooked.
I desire to create elegant jewelry representative of a changing world. My collection of eclectic raw materials spans epochs, from petrified wood and mammoth tusk to encased funerary flowers, leaves, dirt, and even bone. I often use materials which are symbolic of life’s seldom tame but often tragic journey. The ineffable passage of time, the absolute realities of loss and change and tragedy are reflected in many aspects of my work."
Robert is from a small town in southern Illinois nestled in the bluffs of the Mississippi River. He received his BFA in metalsmithing and photography from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and his MFA in metalsmithing from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. In the past few years he has been a part of several national and international exhibitions. He currently resides in St. Louis, MO where he maintains a studio and is an instructor at Craft Alliance.
Robert Thomas Mullen
he/him
“[queerphoria], to me, is the warm feeling I get wearing another queer artist's work… work that is imbued with a deeper sense of connection. I had a hard time fitting in growing up. When I came out, I was suddenly part of this larger friend group of people. I had people backing me that I barely knew. I, like many others, feel most at ease around like-minded people. Having a community within my art field has proven greatly valuable. Not only within the field but in life in general.”
What does [queerphoria] mean to you? This can be something felt, experienced, or made.
“I spent much of my childhood outdoors and with my family. We would travel all over the country on vacations to stay at national parks and to visit relatives. During this time I would collect and catalog bits of nature and detritus. Stones, twigs, bones, etc. All of this time quietly sitting alone I had time to grow an appreciation for the natural world. There are several queer members of my family. They taught me to question the world and to never stifle my wonder. I believe that this fascination is imparted in each of my pieces. Every material carefully selected and arranged.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
Pebble Brooch, Icelandic stones, opal and silver, 3x1.5x0.25", 2020
“I believe that in my case the work is queer because the maker is queer. I spent a great deal of growing up on my own exploring nature. This isolation led to an introspection and sensitivity that translates through my material choices. The forms that I create are dictated by the stones and objects chosen but are greatly influenced by the jewelry of the distinguished people throughout my life.”
Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
Floral Brooch, Dried flowers, silver, bronze and mineral crystal, 1.8x1.8x0.25", 2021
“When creating a piece I hope that the viewer notes the care that has been taken with every choice. I don't think of my work as being outwardly queer. I alternatively imagine the power people feel when wearing my statement or even everyday pieces. I hope that they give people the kind of confidence I see in my favorite celebrities, drag performers, friends and family.”
“I wake up and spend my entire day thinking about making work, no matter if I actually get to be in the” studio. A great deal of time is spent thinking about and sourcing the materials for my work. Every vacation is overshadowed by my pursuit for new and exciting items or to visit jewelry galleries and museums. I spend most nights in my studio producing work for my retailers. This time is also balanced with the creation of my one-of-a-kind pieces.”
What role does your studio practice play in your identity- if at all?
When creating your work, do you consider the relationship your object has with the viewer?
Droplet Brooch, Rock crystal and silver, 3x1.7x0.25", 2020
“My favorite spot in our 100-year-old house is my studio. I turn on one of my favorite albums or a movie I've seen a million times. Surrounded by my dogs and cat. From my bench I can see my partner through a pair of French doors. It just doesn't get any better than that.”