About
Artist Statement
Motivated by the daunting ambivalence I feel for the world around me, I create narrative-driven ceramic sculptures depicting the feminine utopia locked deep within my mind. Through this world, I explore themes of community, relationships, curiosity, and mischief. My work is a patchwork of childhood influences, saturated by the colours, textures, and motifs I experienced growing up. My whole life I have been entirely captivated by the possibilities that lie within the act of creation. While I have a deep adoration for this planet and the community it has provided me, I can’t help but feel it was not built with me in mind. I often feel that I need to change shape to fit into this expected life, one I have no desire or intentions to lead. By controlling this narrative, I grant myself the freedom of experiencing a world catered to my needs; working with me, not against.
Bio
Jolie Neeve is a Canadian ceramic artist based in Brantford, Ontario. She creates large-scale playful sculptures with rich surface decoration. Jolie works exclusively in maiolica, translating scenes straight out of the idealistic utopia hidden within her mind. Working within sculpture and maiolica in a contemporary sense combines her love for both making and painting, creating the ideal conditions to explore and continue this narrative work. She equally considers historical influence and transcendence as the stimulus of her practice. The visual aspects of this world and her work draw heavily on her childhood surroundings and help and provide her with the sense of calm and comfort in which she seeks.
