Artists’ Proof
Curated by H Schenck
About the Artist
emmalyn mueller is a nonbinary lesbian artist whose practice includes painting, printmaking, sewing, tattooing, and more. they use bright colors, glittery materials, and fruity imagery to create art that centers around themes of queerness and femininity. their work is informed by their interest in art history, craft, fashion, and drag.
emmalyn is originally from rural Illinois. they earned their BFA from Columbia College Chicago in 2023 and are the recipient of the Holis Sigler Manifest Award. they are currently a tattoo artist at AF Studio in Moline, IL.
Artist:
Social media: @emmalyn.mueller @strawberrygoose_tattoo
Exhibition
Artists’ Proof
Artist Statement
my art expands past traditional notions of femininity to explore intricacies of the queer femme experience. i am a strange, sensitive being, and my work reflects that. i use art to reject cisheteronormativity, and my practice centers around themes of identity, intimacy, and queer joy.
my practice is a balance of precision and play. i experiment with materials like beads, rhinestones, glitter, and fiber to honor the history of craft while highlighting its connections to femininity and queerness. candy-colored compositions and sparkling surfaces invite viewers to look closely and delve into complex, vulnerable issues.
the strawberry is my favorite mode of self-portraiture, and i proudly reclaim the term “fruity.” i grew up feeling ashamed of my sexuality and my sensuality. my work allows me to accept my shame while confronting it with new feelings that are healing, playful, and sweet.
i use art to embrace my queer body. my tattoos are an extension of my practice as they allow me to transform into the ethereal, rainbow being that has always existed inside my head. i became a tattoo artist to extend healing transformation to other queer, trans, and marginalized people in my community. we all deserve to feel more at home in our bodies, and i aim to show how art can be a powerful tool in that process.
in art school, i fell in love with printmaking, and once i started tattooing, i was pleasantly surprised to discover that the two processes are very similar. both printmaking and tattooing are a balancing act of creativity and technical skill. in both mediums, the artist must cooperate and compromise with the surface, whether that is skin or a copper plate; the artist has to be good at problem solving because all mistakes must be made to look intentional. i am drawn to printmaking and tattooing because they provide a rigid structure for me to improvise and play within. as a printmaker and tattoo artist, i believe it is important to be mindful of the rich history of our crafts, but it is also important to keep pushing the boundaries so that our work reflects the identities, aesthetics, and values of artists today. printmaking and tattooing both lend themselves as powerful tools for artists to express their voices while spreading art to people from all walks of life.
(i purposefully do not capitalize my name, sentences, or titles, inspired by bell hooks.)
starberry
Intaglio print with beads and thread
11″ x 9″
bloobs
Intaglio print with rhinestones and glitter
13″ x 11″
grow a pair
Acrylic paint, glitter, and rhinestones on wood
11″ x 8″
tears of a clown
Acrylic paint, glitter, rhinestones, beads, acrylic embellishments, heirloom doilies, thread, and muslin appliqués on canvas with a painted wall frame
9′ x 7′
t4t
Acrylic paint and glitter on canvas with a painted wall frame
4′ x 6′
doilies for my mom
Tattoo
Variable dimensions, approximately 14″ x 14″
strawberry for my great grandma
Tattoo
Variable dimensions, approximately 1.5″ x 1.5″
marigold, strawberry blonde
Tattoo
carrot stamp
Tattoo
mother plant
Lithograph with thread
8.5″ x 8.5″
strawberry goose flash sheet
Digital Illustration
11″ x 8.5″