By Tobey Crockett PhD | Featured in the Fall 2014 Issue – Art Of The Times
There is a paradox at work in many of Jean Wells artist’s seductive giant treats. Her confections possess mirrored surfaces that reflect back our own images. On one hand, these bright sugarplums offer themselves with charming levity. However, their hard, artificial material denies us the pleasure of consumption.
Furthermore, we are complicit in our own deprivation. We uphold the agreement to look but not touch. Nevertheless, these objects tempt us to break the rules.
Pop Art and Consumerism
Jean Wells artist began sculpting in the late 1980s. She fits neatly into an art historical discourse regarding consumerism. This conversation includes 20th-century stalwarts like Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. Yet, Jean Wells also invokes luminaries like Wayne Thiebaud.
Like many postmodern artists, she works with a blend of pop culture iconography. Her work is charming and nostalgic. Simultaneously, it packs a punch with underlying poignancy.
Byzantine Techniques
Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Wells was born into a large artistic family. At an early age, she apprenticed with her father, mosaic artist Thomas Wells. He taught her the painstaking craft of classical Byzantine-style mosaics.
Recently, she has rediscovered her love of the medium. In keeping with her playful nature, she prefers to turn the traditional use of mosaics on its head. Instead of murals, she makes sculpture.
Jean Wells is deeply inspired by her sumptuous materials. She works with an exquisite palette of custom-colored glass. Consequently, she hand-cuts the glass to shade forms and layer colors with precision.
Scaling New Heights
Generally speaking, she prefers to make everything herself. She may use found objects, such as telephones or antiques. Additionally, she carves large lightweight structures in foam. This allows her to play with a larger scale.
Her largest works to date are the Urban Fruit Trees. These sculptures rise up to seventeen feet tall. Similarly, her Giant Kiss (Kissing Booth) debuted to rave reviews at the LA Art Fair.
Ultimately, the discerning viewer finds depth in these works. They address personal narrative, cultural context, and feminist concerns. Jean Wells artist lets us have some fun along the way.
