IG: @jamiebyersart
jamiebyersstudio.com

The Making of Imaginary Friends

I make brooches that attach to large soft sculptures that are meant to interact with the body. My brooches depict distorted human facial features. They end up looking like mutant human-like creatures. I often use hair, stone, or gems to add to the features. The backing is powder coated to add a colored base to the back of the creatures. These brooches are then paired with a large crochet sculpture that acts as a body.

My work is about feelings of comfort and nostalgia. I use my making processes as tools to relax and reflect. Getting lost in the work gives me time to think about what’s gotten me to where I am. Those feelings of comfort and childhood come through the work. The bright colors and fanciful imagery subconsciously give the work a whimsical feel which is often associated with childhood or youth. The texture and shapes of the large soft sculptures give them a lot of huggability which puts people at ease. My work is intended to have a calming, comforting effect.

Bio

Jamie Byers is a New England based artist who is currently in her senior year of college at the Maine College of Art & Design, graduating in May, 2022 with a BFA in Metalsmithing & Jewelry. She’s been continuously interested in portraiture and her current body of work is a reflection of that.

Byers’ work primarily depicts portions of the face and the  grotesque qualities of facial features. She works in a wide range of materials including plastic, metal, stone, and glass, primarily using casting and crocheting techniques to convey volume and a sense of materiality in the work. She makes objects and wearables that have toy-like qualities that aim to elicit the human curiosity and need to play.