Artist Statment

My work is about the collision between the physical and digital identity. Using an excessive mark to convey the subject of complete submission into digital culture, and the influence it has on our identity. Specifically relating to the younger generations' voice and how they portray, and practice a dual identity. One being that of our physical, and the other being what we choose to display on our various social media platforms. When creating my images I use a computer to illustrate the compromise between our physical identity, and the identity portrayed on our digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, etc. When these two often contradictory personalities collide, the result is disrupted and often corrupted like that of a digital image file. This doubling of the person in the photograph is used to represent our struggle with separating ourselves from what we think is expected of us, and who we really are as individuals. My work strives to demonstrate this digital identity, through a physical format to discuss the impact it has on us in this technologically ruled world.

While creating works of art using the medium of pen on paper to explore the idea of order emerging from a disarray and confusion found in the medium. This disarray in the medium is a reflection of the confusion and disharmony found as a contemporary youth search for their identity. The use of scribbles made with a permanent tool brings to mind an uneasiness and anxiety that will be contrasted with the collection of marks creating a clean and representational image. I create works of art that will find the viewer conflicted and interested at the same time.

Bio

Mariah Morrell (b. 1993 Long Beach, CA) is an artist that works with pen on paper. While born in California she was raised and educated in New Mexico. In 2012, Mariah earned her high school diploma at Cottonwood Classical Preparatory school in Albuquerque NM, graduating with certificates in Fine Art through the International Baccalaureate Program. Mariah earned her BFA at New Mexico State University with an emphasis in drawing in 2016. In 2019, Mariah exhibited in her third solo show at Art Obscura, Las Cruces NM. In 2023, after relocating to San Diego CA, exhibited her work in the Imperial Beach Library exhibition. Mariah creates highly rendered drawings using micron pen to achieve not only her image but a desired texture. Her work is about the obsessiveness of youth, demonstrating this through her excessive mark making.