Damion Dao Pollard
he/him
Raleigh, NC, US
Damion Pollard is a mixed media artist, metalsmith, and jewelry designer from Indiana. This past year he received his BFA degree in Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design from Indiana University Bloomington. His artworks have been shown nationally in Snag in Focus in San Diego California, National Society of Arts & Letters 2023-2025, Radical Jewelry Makeover at the Grunwald Gallery, several gallery shows at the Tangent Gallery on IU's campus, Bring On IU at The Heirloom at N.K. Hurst and Queerphoria Vol. 4 in NY.
“Horror allows me to express the most raw and unmasked version of myself as I reflect and process my childhood trauma. I have always had a morbid curiosity with the macabre and body horror, but it was typically seen as too depressing for other people. My trauma has shaped me into the person I am today, but it's not why I am me. Horror inspires me, it helps me feel like me, it's not just scary stuff it's how I cope with reality, it makes me feel less insane. I find catharsis by visually interpreting my emotions through my artwork, my work at its core is feeling.”
How does your work relate to the theme of flourish(ing)?
“I made this work for my final exhibition in college which allowed me the time to process emotions I have bottled up for so long and finally make work I am so very proud of, instead of being prompted by course material. I got to push myself outside my comfort zone and branch out into mixed media, as well as honing my strengths, compiling elements of skills I have learned throughout the years. Making this work has provided me with the confidence, direction, and vision of my future to keep making work I love. These works were just the beginning."
“Art making is something I need, something I can use to proactively visualize my growth. Creative problem solving and depicting emotions I've bottled allows me to communicate with others. Creating these artworks has become one of my greatest joys, it has allowed me to find my voice, and what I want to share with the world. At times I struggle communicating verbally so visualizing how I feel makes me feel truly seen and where I thrive.”
How does your creative practice allow you to flourish (grow, thrive, blossom)?
"Pressus", Foam, copper, acrylic paint, steel pins, power mesh, fake blood, 12" x 8.5" x 7", 2025
As a queer+ artist, what would you like to see and/or what do you need in order to flourish during this time?
“I want to see more compassion. I believe sharing our feelings is pivotal to our humanity whether it is strange or uncomfortable it's something I think we deeply need in our society now more than ever and art can do this. Art that provokes.”
“I Am Overwhelmed”, Brass, hand pierced, 8" x 5.75" x 0.1", 2024
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“I Am Overwhelmed seems to get overlooked because people believe I got it laser cut (or any variation). I want people to know that I hand pierced it :) ”
Photographs Courtesy of the Artist