Damion Pollard
he/him
Bloomington, IN, USA
Damion is a visual artist currently getting his BFA in Metalsmithing + Jewelry design at Indiana University Bloomington. He was born in Sacramento, California and has spent most of his childhood moving, but Indiana has been his longest home. Damion’s work is often horror inspired while he reflects on past traumas through physical objects that represent emotions. Through his process of material exploration and techniques he finds catharsis in making his desired objects or wearables that explore abstract forms of the human body.
“This work represents the feeling of being numb or empty. I used copper, steel, and rawhide to create an artwork that is to be worn on the body. The form comes from an abstraction of the nervous system with the chain extending from my shoulders to the ground, and the organic look of the rawhide. The negative space represents containing nothing and the lack of meaning that pertains to that emotion.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“I believe my work encourages connection through a common emotion of feeling empty. Experiencing this feeling comes from my experience with depression and anxiety, which I feel my audience can relate to."
"There's Emptiness Inside Me", Rawhide, copper, steel, 17" x 9" x 20" (excluding the chain), 2024
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Simon Leung
“I want to feel that connection to my audience through the emotions I put into my work. My work reflects emotions I feel when thinking about past trauma. People who have depression, anxiety, or CPTSD or combination of the three may find solace by my work. Almost like ‘you're not alone, I see you, I hear you, and I am right there with you’, kind of moment."
What role does connection play in your creative process?
"I feel that my queerness is in constant debate in our current political environment and I believe that connection is of upmost importance right now. Whether that is finding connection through your community, family, or your art, there are people that cherish the connection you have with them."
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
