"MY ART AIMS TO ASK QUESTIONS, TO MAKE THE VIEWER FEEL, REFLECT, AND HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THEY'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE."
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BIO
Camille Kerner graduated with a B.F.A in Studio Art, (departmental honors) and a minor in Spanish in Spring 2024 from Appalachian State University. In September, 2023 they had their first solo exhibition titled “Big Works” at Nth degree gallery and studios where they’ve been a member since 2022.
STATEMENT ON WORK
Conceptually, my work tells a story through intimate grappling between my body and the material; holding layers energetically and building a history of mark making. The creatures I paint give me a feeling of protection and guidance, they bridge the space between my identity and spirituality. Using awkward compositions the viewer is confronted with a new perspective. I find excitement in exploring and expanding artistic techniques, and not being restricted to a single medium. Common themes of queerness, the human form, as well as alternate otherworldly landscapes emerge in my work. To counter the long history of ignorance and oblivion to the values and reality of queers, my desire is to create more representation; spaces to commune, relate, and celebrate the complicated experience of existing outside the traditional norms of our constructed society.
REFLECTIONS
Informed by authors and artists such as Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Sara Ahmed, Leonara Carrington, Nan Goldin, Nicole Eisenman, and Frida Kahlo mixed with the intersections of my own identity, queer perspectives have become the catalyst of my work.
Growing up in Durham, North Carolina the Eno river was practically in my backyard. Though not the most glamorous nature spot in the world, these woods gave me more than what I needed throughout my childhood. I dedicated myself to that river so deeply to learn as much as I could and the river became my mother. I was fascinated to be naked on her rocks and bathe in her snow. Touch and sing to the trees and talk to the owls. I can see my spot when I close my eyes - the one spot we called Sterling… her water glimmers there, surrounding my heart space golden glows of sunsets after warm thunderstorms of a hot and humid North Carolina summer. In the summertime I would spend all my time in her water. I believe knowing this place allowed me to understand myself as the flow of nature - the flow of access I could use to create and see what may seem otherworldly to some.
While painting and drawing are my strong suit, I ultimately consider myself a conceptual artist. My breadth of materials touches collage, video, paint, charcoal, graphite, paper, canvas, wood, clay, installation, and performance. My heart aims to ask questions, to make the viewer feel, reflect, and have an experience they haven’t had before.
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NOTE ABOUT SALES
The primary purpose of this website is not to sell, however if interested in commissioning/ purchasing a painting or having a select display of pieces in your space please contact me.
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Email: camille.art.kerner@gmail.com
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Link to CV​​
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sb2X1S8D8IdyqajUeI4xpW8qjye04gPS/view?usp=sharing
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