Jyenny Babcock

Artist Statement

I make art as an act of discovery. Collage, in particular, feels like solving a puzzle without the box cover: I arrange scraps of paper, follow my intuition, and watch an image emerge that I could never have imagined at the beginning. Sometimes I begin with a subject; other times, the background leads the way. In either case, the materials take on a life of their own.

Experimentation is central to my practice. I am drawn to bold color, new techniques, unexpected subjects, and the freedom to make mistakes. In contrast to the control I exercise in everyday life, art gives me space to explore my imagination, take risks, and embrace imperfection. Following intuition, taking risks, and allowing imperfection are how I make myself vulnerable in the work. Working with my hands helps me enter a state of flow and connect with spirit.

My work does not need to have a fixed style or meaning. I want it to remain open—to me as I change and to each viewer as they bring their own experiences to it. My hope is not that everyone sees the same thing, but that something in the work makes them feel, wonder, question, or connect with something meaningful within themselves. If my art gives someone a reaction, even an unexpected one, then we have connected.