Jazmin Novak

Artist Statement

As a Diné sculptor, I explore themes of connection, identity, and shared humanity from an Indigenous perspective. My work is centered on relationships: with the land, the ecosystems which sustain us, and the people who care for us. I believe that connection to one another and to the ecosystem is critical for our well-being, and my work explores what it means to carry that responsibility. I typically work with metal, stone, and glass, often using animal figures as storytelling tools. While they may appear gentle or familiar at first view, they carry layered meanings and address complicated experiences such as grief, care, loss, and resilience in the face of emotional, social, and cultural historical traumas.

Process is important to my practice. I spend a lot of time learning about the procedures, history, and constraints of the materials I work with. Material selection, surface textures, and finishes are all carefully considered and correlated to each figure's emotional weight. I use gestures and subtle posture changes to convey emotion. Drawing from both lived experiences and imagination, the work develops gradually, giving me space to slow down, reflect, and weave personal memories and moments into each piece as meaning emerges through the process of making.

Through my work, I create spaces that offer stillness and grounding, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and take a deep breath. The work tells stories of survival, care, and resilience, revealing how light persists in the face of adversity and reminding us that compassion endures, connection remains, and we do not move through the world alone.