Oceans Within Sculpture

Statement: Emily Schnellbacher Bean's artistic practice blends analytical precision with a contemplative approach. Guided by her deep connection to nature, she employs a meticulous process to craft her sculptures and installations. Creating unique patterns as the foundation, Bean cuts and sews together flat planes of fabric, skillfully transforming them into intricate three-dimensional forms. Through this labor-intensive technique, which often involves hundreds of repetitions, she creates larger sculptures and installations designed to captivate the viewer's imagination. In her artistic exploration, Bean draws inspiration from the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural world. Her works intricately intertwine depictions of natural environments, plant life, and at times, elements of human anatomy. By employing fabric as her chosen medium—a material we all intimately relate to through our clothing, linens, and upholstery—Bean seeks to create accessible art that resonates with diverse audiences, sparking a sense of wonder and fostering a deep appreciation for the preservation of nature. Bean's artistic approach pays homage to the legacies of early pop and process art movements, integrating craft media and processes while infusing them with a contemporary aesthetic. Her use of vibrant colors, repeated motifs, and intricate textures reflects a nod to these artistic traditions. By combining elements of fashion fabric design with her meticulous technique, she forges a unique visual language that merges tradition and innovation. Through her artistic practice, Emily Schnellbacher Bean invites viewers to immerse themselves in a world where nature's wonders and the human experience coexist. Her visually captivating works not only engage the senses but also serve as a catalyst for contemplation, encouraging a collective commitment to the preservation of our natural environment. Bio: Emily Schnellbacher Bean grew up in Indianapolis, IN, where she earned her BFA in Painting from Herron School of Art and Design with minors in Art History and Psychology in 2011. Bean then moved to Philadelphia, PA, where she earned an MFA in Visual Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) in 2013. Having sewn wearable art and costumes for years as a hobby, she shifted her entire studio practice from painting to soft-sculpture and installation during her studies at PAFA and it continues to be her primary media.