Leslie Friedman

I am deeply drawn to art about identity and how we represent ourselves. As a scholar of both art and political science, I am intrigued by the power of a visual vocabulary to set the stage for political dialogue. I see my role as a visual director, employing both fine art and industrial methods to realize my vision. Stemming from my interest in repeat pattern, I have been exploring what it would mean to combine pattern with narrative. Vivianus is an outgrowth of that exploration. Motivated by the work of artists Henry Darger and Gustav Klimt, punk icon Nina Hagen, and the plight of gender non-conformists, I am constructing an island utopia where the inhabitants communicate through rock music. The wooden sculptures reference action figures and dolls, much like the turned figurines in the center’s collection.