Artist Statement 

The mysteries of our world are in constant play around us as we witness the emergence of life, the physical embodiment of form, and the eventual departure from that form. Tension between the known and unknown is a driving force of our existence.

My work emerges from a fascination with organic forms in the natural world and our relationship with them through time. Plant, animal, or mineral, we are all subjects in constant transition. A celebration of natural beauty, whether full of life, or in a state of decay, my pieces are shaped by nature’s evolving forms. The way a patina accumulates on a surface, or how crystals grow on a cave wall over millenia, or even how a dying leaf takes on new shapes while still being a leaf, are all sources of deep reflection for me.

Using man made materials like resin and electricity, combined with plants, metals, insects, and other natural objects, I create representative sculpture that borders on abstraction. Each piece invites a visceral interaction. 

My hope is to inspire people to engage with the natural world around them. For my viewer, I want the experience of being present with nature, and of contemplating how biological elements fit together with each other and humanity. 

Material & Process

I am driven by the possibility of seeing a concept in my mind actualized. The process begins with exploration and curiosity that drives me to experiment widely with subjects and materials such as organic elements, 3D printing, clay, resin, precious metals, stones, and light.  

Each material that enters the studio becomes part of an ongoing conversation. Early bronze castings of vertebrae, seahorses, and other natural materials led me to create my own shapes in metals and porcelain. Later, I was drawn by the desire to understand light and electricity and their place in sculpture. Resin came out of a necessity to make butterfly wings more stable. I then began sculpting with it by learning how to work with its cure time and viscosity. All of these elements have merged over time into more complex expressions of my overall vision.

Once I determine a form’s process and materials, I enter a meditative state. The work becomes peaceful, and methodical. In this deep quiet, the identity of a new work emerges, carrying with it the curiosity that brought it into being.  

Background

Jocelyn Marsh is a Los Angeles based artist whose sculpture investigates our shared relationships to history and the natural world. She is sought after for her layered, textural and dimensional organic works.

Marsh received her degree in English Literature from Washington State University before living and traveling throughout Southeast Asia and Europe. A self-taught artist, Marsh has been working in Los Angeles since 2003.