Jay Hurst
she/they
Boston, MA, USA
Jay Hurst is an artist born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, where she attends the Massachusetts College of Art & Design and is studying for a BFA in Jewelry & Metalsmithing. Before attending college, Hurst worked at Artist For Humanity, a studio that employs teenagers, where she learned many skills, starting her journey into the art world. She is a multimedia artist who works in metal fabrication, jewelry making, and collage among others. A lot of her work centers around reimagining a life for objects that no longer have one, breathing life into things once forgotten. As of late, Hurst has exhibited in the All School Show at MassArt, which is a juried exhibit featuring the best of her majors' work. For her, great importance lies in her outlook on life; how she sees the world as something beautiful and worth saving, and a desire to spread this sentiment to others.
“I want my art to make people stop and appreciate the beauty in the world around us. I feel that imagining a better, more fantastical world can make us appreciate our current one as well as work to change and improve it. I am driven to create because the more that people can dream, the closer tangible change becomes; how could you improve your world if you can't dream of a better one? I believe in valuing life and loving the planet around us and my heart breaks at its deterioration and the rampant injustices that accompany.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“Connection between people is vital to our survival, as individuals and as a community. This piece is very large, commending attention, not just to the earrings but to the wearer. I feel like I am very outwardly trans, from the way I carry myself, to my fashion choices to the trans flag pin that I try to wear as often as I can. I do this to show others they can be themselves and still survive. Being queer in our society can be difficult and isolating but we can find and build joy together."
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“I want to connect my viewers back to themselves and the world around them, to take care of nature and each other."
"Starrings", silver, brass rivets, 3.5" x 5" x 1", 2024What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my community."
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“I was able to afford the large amount of silver that this piece uses due to the way MassArt structures their participation in the International Precious Metals Institute yearly competition. They give each of us up to a hundred dollars of silver that they reimburse and the school is able to use for the next year's applicants."