Beth Burgess

Beth, a self-taught artist, credits her artistic journey to a high school studio art class assignment that encouraged her to create something unexpected from recycled materials. Over the past two decades, she’s continued to explored this process, using woven wire, found and upcycled objects, Apoxie for intricate details and incorporating more sophisticated armatures and adding carefully selected accessories to her figures.

Each element of Beth’s artwork conveys a significant message. The unnaturally twisted bodies serve as a commentary on the isolation, objectification, and pressures faced by women in contemporary society. Carefully chosen accessories evoke sympathy and expose vulnerabilities, individuality, personal struggles, and a desire for validation. Complex mechanical elements, woodworking, and electronics draw attention to the subconscious gender bias, while the detailed fragments symbolize vulnerability.

Beth interest in art first emerged during her elementary school years when she experienced significant hearing loss. The extent of this loss wasn’t realized until her 30’s, when she underwent a hearing test and acquired hearing aids. Throughout the intervening years, Beth was frustrated by her inability to communicate effectively.  While the hearing aids helped tremendously, she realized years of inexperience had limited her ability to verbally express herself. For Beth, creating art feels comforting and provides a non-verbal way to communicate.

She describes her work as contemporary characters that have the illusion of order and perfection, stripped away to reveal complexity and personal struggles. Along with enhancing her communication abilities, Beth hopes her art will evoke an emotional response in viewers.

After becoming disillusioned with traditional job settings, Beth found happiness in being self-employed. Currently, she resells thrift store finds and facilitates home repairs and construction, deriving satisfaction from fixing things and acquiring new skills.

Since 2015, Beth’s artwork has been in numerous exhibits throughout Oklahoma and Arkansas.

https://www.bethburgessart.com/