2022

Piece #16 from Amanda Johnson’s “Eye Contact” collection.

Black eyeliner, eyeliner pencils, Play-Doh, false eyelashes, eyeshadow sticks, eyeliner pencil shavings, glitter.

Framed: 11 ⅝” x 12 ⅛” x 2”

$2175.00

Artist Exhibit Statement

Black eye liner, nail polish, glitter, “who am I?”, coming of age, sex …more black eyeliner. Sexy, fish nets, skulls, Play-Doh, naked, icon, restraints, restriction, eyes, all seeing eyes, overseer, aliens, not of this earth, glitter, hair, flowers, mirrors, self-reflection, death, fantasy, after life, other worldly, amber, time capsule, “we are not alone.”

These mixed media tablets sprung to life in a vision I had- more of a dream, really. Looking back, they feel like I was quite literally cracked open, and a sort of liquid primordial ooze poured out. Unable to keep a written diary as of late, I felt compelled to encapsulate certain feelings and ideas. These 23 tablets document an intense period of self-reflection and embody a certain chapter of my life driven by transition.

I have found myself over the past few years roaming my local beauty supply and dollar stores. I find these types of stores fascinating; I see our society as well as myself reflected in what the aisles are stocked with. I have amassed a collection of personal favorite pieces from these stores over the years and drew from my collection to create this particular body of works.

Using unconventional materials, I was driven to play, take risks, incorporate ideas and process some big feelings into a new media. These tablets are created with multiple layers of epoxy resin, paint and found objects assembled over a period of time. Like layers of skin and protective tissues, these pieces document and preserve what is underneath my surface.