Shanie Tomassini’s reflections on the “shape-shifting nature of experience” are articulated through sculpture and architecture, and invite us to think about life as a series of transitions that unfold over time. Using a variety of techniques, ranging from mold making to welding, Tomassini explores how different materials transform under pressure. What dynamics are at play when a doodle becomes a wood carving, or when a lump of clay transforms into a cup? What shifts occur in the passage from sleep to wakefulness, or in traveling from one place to another? Looking to items in her immediate surroundings—tarot cards, bathtub and floor drains, and incense—Tomassini invites viewers to consider what we turn to in moments of transition: whether to reflect, escape, or pass the time.
Organized by Taylor Bradley, 2018–19 Visual Arts Center Curatorial Fellow
Shanie Tomassini (b. 1991, Montreal, Québec) received her BA from L’Université du Québec à Montréal (2014) and her MFA from The University of Texas at Austin (2019). Tomassini’s work was presented at the Contemporary Art Fair, Quebec (2019); Sweet Pass Sculpture Park, Dallas (2019); UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, Austin (2018); CIRCA Art Actuel, Montreal (2018); TAP Art Space, Montreal (2018). She is currently preparing an exhibition for the Clark center in Montreal (2021).
Taylor Bradley (b. 1986, Los Angeles, CA) specializes in modern and contemporary art with a focus on the history of photography and conceptual art. She received her BA in Art History with distinction from Boston University (2008) and earned her MA (2012) and PhD (2019) from The University of Texas at Austin.
