MFA 2020 Artists MFA 2020 Artists: Elizabeth Bell

Biography

Born and raised in the Berkshires, Elizabeth graduated from Mount Holyoke College with majors in Studio Art and Art History and earned an MA in Art Education from The University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. Before returning to academic study, she worked as an elementary school art teacher within the Ohio public school system and as a CASA and guardian ad litem for children in foster care. Her work has been exhibited in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Empty-handed I entered the world
Barefoot, I leave it.
My coming, my going–
Two simple happenings
That got entangled.
Kozan Ichikyo

Statement

The reality of death animates life. In the last few years, I have walked closely with death and have come to appreciate its transformative power and the lessons it has to teach us about living. I created a series of artworks using boats as a metaphor to represent the passage from this life to the next. Each piece approaches this metaphysical journey from a different angle, exploring the tensions between presence and absence, pleasure and fear, love and loss. It is my hope that the work creates a space for the viewer to slow down and appreciate the ephemerality of life, to look to one another with urgency and compassion knowing that we are all on the same boat, all headed toward the same destination.

Contact

lbfly41@aol.com

Slideshow

1. The Dead, 2020, beeswax, wood, plexiglass, 14” x 28”
2. The Dead, 2020, beeswax, wood, plexiglass, 14” x 28”
3. Last Passage, 2020, audio, video, 8” x 10”
4. Last Passage (detail), 2020, audio, video, 8” x 10”
5. Last Passage (detail), 2020, audio, video, 8” x 10”
6. Saudade, 2020, wood, salt, driftwood, rope, 48” x 25”
7. Saudade, 2020, wood, salt, driftwood, rope, 48” x 25” 
8. Saudade (detail), 2020, wood, salt, driftwood, rope, 48” x 25”
9. Saudade (detail), 2020, wood, salt, driftwood, rope, 48” x 25”
10. Saudade, 2020, wood, salt, driftwood, rope, 48” x 25” (left) and Death Ship, 2020, wooden boat, jute, plastic, 17’ x 3’
11. Death Ship, 2020, wooden boat, jute, plastic, 17’ x 3’
12. Death Ship (detail), 2020, wooden boat, jute, plastic, 17’ x 3’

More Information

• University Art Gallery MFA Thesis Exhibition
• MFA Thesis Online Exhibition