Artist Statement

Locality is important to me, and I rely heavily on what’s around me for content and inspiration. I have spent most of my life living in varied communities in both the U.S. and the global south, which has helped build my visual vocabulary.

My collaged materials are sourced from locally-made papers, dollar store finds, and teen magazines. I work in a narrative format, focusing on snapshot moments that depict an intimate take on larger movements. From there, I build a story with the goal of tapping into commonalities that connect us and showing corners of life that aren’t often represented. I tell these stories through the lens of stylization and post-colonial slants on exoticism, which contrasts bold visuals and personalized scenes.

The U.S. criminal justice system brings up feelings of lack of autonomy, helplessness, and existing in a type of limbo. I am reminded of one person in particular, Michael, whom I worked with as part of a program to engage young people in rural Ohio’s juvenile justice system with public art. Michael was dealing with multiple issues and was given a foothold by moving in with his uncle. He was working hard to transition from the chaos of his youth to some stability with his new family — struggling with friendships, school and looking to the future. Unfortunately, he never made it to his goal. Shortly before graduating, he was killed in a car crash. In this piece, I draw on my own experiences, being on the border of two places, to help share his story.

Biography

Caitlin Cartwright is a social change artist whose vibrant narrative works combine painting, drawing, and collage to explore the stories that connect people across cultures and circumstance — using her art as a storytelling tool for economic empowerment, peace building, and healing and wellness. Her many years spent living and working with vulnerable populations in locales such as Madagascar, Namibia, India, as well as multiple places within the U.S., influence both the emotional and geographical scope of her pieces.

Caitlin earned her B.F.A. from Maryland Institute College of Art, a master’s degree in sustainable international development from SIT, and completed a six-month residency at the Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft in Columbia, NC. She’s currently based in Ohio, where she serves as Director of Programming at We Care Arts, an organization that provides healing arts experiences to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses. She also serves as board president of the Dayton Society of Artists (DSA). Follow her on Instagram @caitlincartwright or visit  caitlincartwright.com.