Annette Goodfriend

Lives and works in San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA

Artist statement

Working primarily with epoxy, resin, steel, rubber, wax, and plaster, I create sculptures that explore the intricacies of human anatomy, from the cellular level to the limb. By casting a critical, scientific, and humorous eye on the mutagenesis of corporeal form, I am telling a surreal story of biology. It is a visceral investigation of the perversity of nature, the role of science, and how our bodies both affect and are affected by the changing world around us. With this current body of work titled “Phenotype” I’m exploring the visible physical expression of invisible molecular change. Mutation can be the cause of disease, but it can also be the tweak that leads to evolution, conquering a previous weakness. Every person has a family member or friend physically affected by genetic mutation. In this way the work is compelling as it exists in a space that anyone can understand yet originates from my own deeply personal experience. My material use evolves as the conceptual nature of my work changes. The complex beauty of human form and function, the impact of life sciences on all living things, the processes of aging, how our bodies physically interpret the environment, and the interplay between art, nature, and science are themes that continue to weave their way through my work.

Artwork