Christy Nelson

Artist Statement

I work with used, soiled, and discarded—often familial—objects, transforming them through art agents such as encaustic, stretcher frames, and pigment. These materials carry the residue of lived experience, and the act of redeeming salvaged forms and holding them in a moment of restoration becomes a way of working through grief as an ongoing process rather than a singular event. In this altered state, the artworks enter a shared space with the viewer.

Some works reveal holes or scars that can be closed and reopened, reflecting the cyclical nature of mourning, while others investigate what we choose to use, keep, or discard over time. Soft color palettes carry whispers of grief, memory, and care. Specific materials—such as a decrepit, inherited zipper or used linens—imbue each piece with narratives of loss and endurance. Rather than seeking resolution, the work holds space for grief to be witnessed, honored, and continually re-formed through acts of care and transformation.