Artist Registry


The White Columns Curated Artist Registry is an online platform for emerging and under-recognized artists to share images and information about their respective practices. The Registry seeks to create a context for artists who have yet to benefit from wider critical, curatorial or commercial support. To be eligible, artists cannot be affiliated with a commercial gallery in New York City.




To apply to the Registry, click here. Join our mailing list here to receive our open call announcement and other programming updates. For any further questions about the Registry, please contact us at registry@whitecolumns.org.

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Michelle Marcuse
Philadelphia PA US
Updated: 2023-07-07 12:43:18

STATEMENT OF WORK

In my work,  I am constantly seeking innovative ways to intertwine substance with methodology. My focus lies not only in crafting my materials but also refining the creative process behind their development. My studio practice revolves around in-depth exploration of various materials, fueled by my curiosity to experiment.

Using mixed media, such as wire, raffia, thread, and cardboard, I approach  my projects through a build-up and break-down of materials. The resulting chaos has a paradoxical fertility from which I can generate forms.  I like the makeshift quality  that results from this dissolution, keeping my work in various states of becoming, never finite, mutable, like water and air. When necessary,  I use an assortment of mediums such as gouache, acrylic paint, graphite, chalks and  glitter. By using a limited palette, I create a more cohesive composition. I see my forms as drawings in 3 dimensions. The interplay between line and negative space that arises has a rhythm and tension that adds complexity to my forms.

It is important for me to maintain authenticity in my art. Growing up in South Africa, the multi-cultural essence of this country with its various ethnicities, languages and customs, instilled a deep appreciation for the intricacy of human creativity. These formative years have had a huge impact on the way I process and express myself.

In my work, I aim to convey the raw and untamed essence of Southern Africa, seeking to capture the interaction between land and people, and to encapsulate the moments that are both emblematic of this nation and personal to me.

Embarking on my creative journey toward authenticity, I recognize  that I was shaped by the cultural contexts of my native land. This journey led to self-expression and uncovered universal themes within our human diversity. My work elucidates the profound connection that is woven into the tapestry of our experiences; it celebrates the differences that are unique to each culture yet universally relatable.