John Sproul

Artist Statement

I create art to articulate emotional states that I am unable to access directly. Making paintings, drawings and monoprints I use family, friends, and people I encounter at the dinner table, hiking trails, concerts, museums, and the subway. The work looks at how we share these spaces, expressing feelings of fear, anxiety, self-doubt, loneliness and resilience I see in myself and in those around me as we experience the erosion of connection to community, loved ones and ourselves. It is a mirror to our modern disconnection populated by selfies, likes, and algorithms, slowly unraveling the myth of how it is to be seen in this age.

The process of making art informs the way I live. The ritual of artmaking helps me to dismantle the protective barriers I built to survive in the social systems around me. Through this journey, I discover and embrace the power of connection, honesty, and generosity.