Jessica Campbell
Region: Midwest
My work—satirical drawings, comics, and textiles—is woven from elaborate, humorous, and politically pointed narratives that expose the experiences with sexism that women have faced throughout history and continue to face every day. Primarily, I have been using carpet to create figurative works that visually mimic latch hook rugs, yet deviate from the medium’s traditional subject matter, depiction style, and scale. Drawing on a wide range of influences, from science fiction and art world politics, to ancient Greek myths and my evangelical upbringing, my worlds reference craft traditions, home decor, and fine art, with an emphasis on comics. I use humor as a tool to help process what is happening in the world; by reconsidering past traumatic events in my life, I have now mentally recast them as funny. Humor can make some trauma bearable.