Jill Marleah Bell

I am drawn to the inherent humor that exists amid life’s hardships. Life is often simultaneously laughable and heart wrenching. For me, the fascination lies in the contrasting emotions that exist together in the same moment. My work deals with the tension, irony and contradiction that result from this conflict. My figures are placed in predicaments both real and surreal. Initially the viewer may see these situations as comical. On closer inspection, it is apparent that the characters are trapped by their own physical and/or emotional boundaries, and what was once viewed with humor is now seen with empathy. This show of human fragility is what stirs me. I find this vulnerability endearing, beautiful and universal.
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