Emily Silver
Emily Silver is an artist, educator, and curator whose work employs textiles as a form of collage to explore the inconsequential and the un/monumental. Through themes of hoarding, grief, and identity, her practice elevates the conversation around the complexity of shared human experiences. Emily’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Recent residencies include the Icelandic Textile Residency, the Berlin Textile Co-op, and Jacquard design and weaving studies at Fondazione Arte Lisio in Florence.
Emily oversees the Sculpture Program at Santa Monica College, where she is currently developing a Fiber Program. She is the Director of the Pete and Susan Barrett Gallery. Additionally, she co-founded Unpaved Gallery in Yucca Valley, CA, the Curate Joshua Tree podcast, and serves as an independent curator for Tidelands in Seattle, Washington.
Emily holds a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and an MFA from Penn State University.
Artist Statement
My work navigates the intricacies of lived experiences, using texture and color to reflect the contradictions that shape our worlds. Through felting, weaving, sculpture, and text, I delve into personal narratives and the influences of our surroundings. My pieces transform ‘girly’ and unmonumental elements into spaces where heartache and humor collide, allowing for a nuanced exploration of grief, identity, societal expectations, and the impact of major life events.
As I grapple with these varied elements, my work vibrates in an opulent state, demanding attention and consumption. It showcases the inconsequential and the un/monumental, referencing themes of hoarding, breakups, and significant life changes while staging moments of sacredness and sadness. Through this lens, I utilize the profane to communicate and mourning as a means to understand the human condition, elevating a conversation about the complexity of our shared experiences.
