goddard

For millennia the Catholic Church has fostered an identity of consumption, influence, and moral authority to the globe, acting as a ‘savior.’ And, for less than millennia, the American Machine has done the same thing. In my practice, focusing on illustrations, I maintain compositions, imagery, and narratives of classical works of Renaissance and Baroque masters, while infusing modern styles. Much of my work replaces common Catholic motifs with those found in American culture. Drawing inspiration from the street art lining subway stations, abandoned buildings, and highway billboards, my work uses bold colors, thick lines, and two-tone shading. This style creates work that feels satirical and stands as an anti-culture towards ideas of the classical art world. Work that critiques the elitist culture preserved by the Catholic Church and its good friend, the American Culture. Through sculpture and collage, I continue to work in satirical comparison. Often adorning traditional catholic items with icons of Americana. Or, vice versa (I am aware of the eternal damnation that awaits me for this blasphemy). These pieces stand as physical representations of the consumerist and capitalistic backbone in which these institutions were born, and continue to operate under. My practice stands to explore the parallelity between Catholicism and “American-ism.” A parallelity that follows two institutions built upon imperialistic & colonialistic histories disguised as ‘peace-bringers.’ Through my work, I hope to highlight the commonality and hypocrisy of two institutions long entangled with political and cultural structures that perpetuate inequality and injustice.