Adam Atkinson is a metalsmith, curator, and educator. He received an MFA in Metal Design at East Carolina University in 2019, and a BFA in Interdisciplinary Studio Practices at Boise State University in 2013. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally including the Wayne Art Center, Boone Art and History Museum, and Nagoya Zokei University, Nagoya, Japan, among others. He has been awarded numerous residencies including the Emerging Artist Residency at the Baltimore Jewelry Center and the three-year residency at Penland School of Craft. He teaches widely across the United States.
Adam Atkinson
he/they
"The Orifice Series explores the link between the body and nature using metal and wood juxtapositions. Each piece draws upon organic, bodily imagery and fur textures overlaid on carved cherry. A focal point is created through pierced holes, an allusion to the many orifices of the human body, centering feelings of discomfort. Traditional metalsmithing techniques are employed to entice further investigation, creating a tension between abject imagery and refined metal forms. I hope to encourage the viewer to question their relationship to the natural world through a reminder that we are all animals living within an ever-turbulent ecosystem."
“Feeling joy in one's queerness is a story of resistance to adversity. Queer social movements, such as the Gay Liberation Front of the 1960's-70's, propelled LGBTQIA+ issues to the forefront of American politics, ultimately helping to end anti-sodomy laws in 2003 (Lawrence v. Texas) and legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015 (Obergefell v. Hodges). These victories marked significant gains for LGBTQIA+ rights, and yet many battles continue to be hard-fought. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade came a wave of homophobic, anti-trans laws banning health care and visibility for queer individuals. On an individual level, queerphoria represents the rare moments I'm able to feel whole and at peace with my identity. In the larger social arena, it is a reminder that my peace cannot be fully felt until it is felt for all-a distant horizon that we continue to chase.”
What does [queerphoria] mean to you? This can be something felt, experienced, or made.
Bunched Up, Medium: Cherry, silver, steel, acrylic Dimensions: 4" x 3" x 0.5" Year Completed: 2021
“I subvert heteronormative expectations of subject matter using traditional materials and techniques. Using chasing and repousse, a process of forming metal sheet into three-dimensional shapes, I create highly detailed adornment which act as a marker of queer identity. I combine these forms with carved wood, and other non-traditional materials to create a visual relationship between orifice and phallic-like forms.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“I believe that no matter what your identity is, the hand is connected to individual behind it. Every file mark, every brush stroke is tied to the life experiences of the maker. My work often displays queer content, but is also a reflection of my queerness in its execution. The two are inseparable for me.”
Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
Curved, Medium: Cherry, copper, silver, steel, acrylic Dimensions: 20" x 6" x 0.5" Year Completed: 2021
“I am drawn to processes and materials that take time and dedication to master. The slow process of forming, sanding, and finishing metal and wood is deeply cathartic for me and allows me to reflect on my experiences and what I hope to covey to the viewer. For me, materials which resist being formed are akin to the life-long process of self-acceptance and self-actualization. Through slow, careful fabrication my pieces become fully realized, and guide me to a future where I can find those qualities in myself.”
What role does your studio practice play in your identity- if at all?
“My audience is split on a dividing line of who is in the know, and who can enjoy my work solely for its aesthetic value. Those who are in the queer community, might wear my pieces like a badge or symbol of inclusion. Those not in the queer community are also invited to enjoy the work for its craft, construction, and materiality. Engagement in its content is not a requirement for the pieces to be pleasurable.”
When creating your work, do you consider the relationship your object has with the viewer?
Pendulum Swings, Medium: Cherry, silver, copper, steel, acrylic Dimensions: 4" x 2.5" x 0.5" Year Completed: 2020
We've asked you a lot of our questions... What is one thing you would like to share?
“My favorite tool is a small riveting hammer that I I learned to make in grad school. It has a handle made from a used chopstick and a 60D nail which I forged into a forging hammer head. Its extremely lightweight and allows me to make the sweetest, tiniest rivets, perpetuating my love for all things small.”