Artist Statement
My name is Olivia Pierog, I am an artist. I have been an artist since I was a child, all I have ever wanted to do and all I have ever known is art as an outlet to express myself. I struggled throughout my life articulating stories, memories, and emotions to others. Because of this I often felt othered, misunderstood, or awkward; whereas making art and channeling my emotions into it allowed my points to come across clearly and I felt better understood. Working is very therapeutic and painting, sketching, and sculpting have become an integral part of my everyday life outside the studio.
Religious artifacts and artwork have been influencing me from a young age. I would spend time looking at the stained glass windows, arching ceilings, golden tabernacles, and oil paintings of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. It became a significant part of the worship for me, and although I am not as devout as I was being brought up and have moved somewhat away from the Church, there is a spiritual element in making art, particularly representing the body or the figure in my work. This connection to Catholicism or its aesthetics comes across in some religious idols, symbols, or stories included in many of my drawings, paintings, and prints.
Having been inspired by the Old master oil painters, naturally I would opt to work in oil paints. I have an appreciation for the materials in their raw form, the toxicity of the chemicals and paint as well as the care needed to handle them makes sure every element is intentional. Materials are an important part of my process, I typically will make art using the following materials: Raw & gessoed canvas, Stonehenge paper, dyed cotton, plywood or wood paneling, graphite, water based ink and pen, oil paint, acrylic paint, watercolor and Gouache paint, spray paint, stoneware clay, screen and block printing ink.
Other inspiration from my work comes from different settings like 1970’s Brooklyn, NY subways.The elements of street art of that time that I like to incorporate are techniques like stenciling, typography, screenprinting, and spraypainting. The illegal elements of Graffiti that define the category are elements that I hope continue to be passed down to artists long after I am gone. I firmly believe art is a valid and effective way to get a point across, tell a story, or grab attention. It is important to me to leave a mark on my environment, particularly an artistic one.
The most important theme that has been consistent throughout my entire life as an artist has been the challenge of representing the human form. It is the most captivating subject to me, as well as the most challenging. To render a human body and face is not the same as rendering, say, a still life of a bowl of fruit. The artist must capture what makes that person alive. Expression and body language are my strongest tools that aid me in making sure someone’s spark is captured in their portrait. In most of my portrait work, subjects’ expressions read as moody but my hope as an artist is to have them read as something you can’t quite put your finger on.
Telling a complete story includes more elements than just a figure or what they’re wearing, I use symbolism, visible health or mental state, and surrounding environment to create balanced work and pieces with a cohesive narrative to them. Common themes that can come from the environment or space that a subject in my work interacts with can include themes of love, sexuality, romanticism, substance use, and some mild gore here and there when things get real.
Many elements of my style are still developing as I continue to grow as an artist and find new ways to express what I feel needs to be said about life in our time. Ultimately, and in closing, I am an artist because I have the desire to tell a story in a way that one cannot with words. It is deeply rooted in me as a passion to capture the beauty in the people and environment around me, I only hope to learn as much as I can to be the best storyteller I can be.