Chiara Spicer - Artist Statement My art is a form of expression of creative, colorful, and mythical worlds. I use bright colors, clay, and various painting techniques to accent the fantasy and fairytale themes represented in my art. Clay is the perfect medium to realize the characters and narratives as it brings the fantasy into the physical world. I use the element of scale to further dramatize these worlds - big canvases represent the vast inner world of my mind and I contrast those with small worlds to emphasize the hidden. I use multiple objects that make the viewer see different parts of the art, urging them to view it from a different perspective. My artwork represents my inner truth; existing within a childlike fantasy space brings me joy and a sense of peace. Viewing the world through the lens of 'childlike-ness' cultivates curiosity for exploration and stimulates my creativity. The exploration takes shape in the form of 'Mushy', an interstellar traveler in search of self-discovery. His travels take him down several paths where he is challenged by the overwhelming certainty of the unknown - the artwork is meant to re-create this feeling of overwhelming uncertainty juxtaposed by a sense of playfulness and joy.

Chiara Spicer is a ceramic artist and painter who is highly influenced by cartoonist media. She lives in Richmond, Indiana and has attended Indiana University since 2020 and is now in her last semester on the road to graduation. She has been drawing and painting as a young girl and is now pursuing art as a career in the hopes of becoming an art therapist. She has participated in the Student Exhibition (2023), Tributaries, Journal of the Arts (2024) and was interviewed for Palette to Palette, (2024).
Chiara’s work is a form of self-expression with the focus on the “joy of one’s inner child”. She uses cartoonist styles in her clay to bring objects to life with bright, vibrant colors that represent the brightness within herself. It is through the expression of her inner truth and her creative journey that she continues to pursue learning more and sharing with the world.