Nicholas Rosin

Lives and works in New Paltz, NY, USA

Artist statement

Artist Statement Nicholas Rosin Intrigued by ironies in life and the impact of status anxiety in our modern world, my work and practice reflect on society through a satirical lens. Engraving has historically detailed style and manners in each era. By creating recognizable mass-produced forms, I engrave my work with contemporary narratives, patterns, and text to explore addiction, technology, religion, and disposable culture. I question the swath of values set out by our consumer culture with a tongue-in-cheek attitude inviting viewers to recognize the uncomfortable truths in our daily lives. With an urge to sketch and the skill to engrave, I utilize this unique combination to express my personal observations of social expectations and personal habits and obsessions, through the use of humorous scenarios and iconography. My recent body of work Disposable Income examines throwaway vessels and their gross social and environmental impact on society. Creating a series of hand-engraved every-day disposable objects using precious and non-precious metals, I elevate the forms to emphasize the longevity of their impact. Heavily influenced by language, satire, and pop culture, I use my illustrative style of engraving to convey the overwhelming branding and absurdity of waste associated with these objects. I see disposable containers as ritualistic objects that can take on the level of luxury good through mass consumption. Continuing with my engravings of social narrative, and...

Artwork