hertog aimee

Artist Statement

Rooted in a multidisciplinary background (MFA 2011) specializing in digital photography and sculpture, my practice explores the psychological landscape of contemporary American life. My current work functions as a visual dialogue between the surgical precision of digital media and the tactile history of traditional fine art. To address the inherent stress and fragmentation of our era, I employ an innovative process that integrates my own paintings and monotypes into digital compositions. This layering mirrors a "conversation across time," using novel techniques to move beyond traditional photography into a mixed-media space. The resulting imagery reflects a specific duality: the frantic, often chaotic pace of the digital age contrasted with a persistent, universal yearning for a higher spiritual state. While haunting, the work is undercut by a sense of humor—a vital tool for navigating the external pressures of the 21st century.

By integrating hand-rendered Gelli prints, cyanotypes, and paintings into digital frameworks, I resolve the tension between disparate visual languages. I treat the image as a constructed object—layering the tactile grit of hand-pulled prints with the surgical precision of digital photography. This approach mirrors a sculptural "build," where color serves as a structural organizing principle to harmonize conflicting textures.