Amanda Robles
Taken from a sociological standpoint, my current body of work addresses the deconstruction of romanticized perceptions (in regards to gender, sexuality, and our social relationships) developed in our formative years. As a fan of John Locke’s tabula rasa/blank slate theory, I approach identity and attraction as being products of our social constructions refined by countless external stimuli that have registered with us in a subconscious manner during youth. I hope to bring awareness to the simple, seemly inconsequential moments in our lives that have impacted us in significant ways that most of us are very unaware of. I often critique the oversimplification and impulse to taxonomize human idiosyncrasies (especially in reference to the complexities of sexuality and the concept of orientation.) In addition, my body of work ponders the psychological, emotional, and transformative impact of deconstructing our social identities. It is no surprise that I credit my work to be heavily influenced by the philosophies of Judith Butler and Jean-Paul Sartre.As I most often work with the concepts of gender and sexuality, the dichotomy of “normativity and otherness” is a common presence within my artwork. During this residency, I hope to explore the innate characteristics of our human essence; whether that is through our expectations, our insecurities, or some other commonality in the human experience. Although my current work hasn’t focused directly on the human body, I am interested in challenging myself to retranslate these concepts upon/through the body.
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Amanda Robles is an emerging conceptual artist whose work thematically addresses existential philosophy, romanticized perceptions (in regards to gender, sexuality, and social relationships), and the deconstruction of formative years. Her background is predominately in drawing and painting, but during her recent work, she has branched out into the realms of sculpture, video, and digital fabrication. She not only focuses on her own artistic endeavors, but is also concerned about accessibility of art throughout the community. She has been active in the development of DFW underground art scene for the past few years and has been a teaching assistant at the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy in Ada, Oklahoma. Currently, Robles is pursuing her B.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of North Texas with a minor in Leadership of Community and Nonprofit Organizations.