Artist Bio & Statement

My name is Cottone, and I am a non-binary (they/she) visual artist and writer from Indianapolis, IN, focusing my work in photography, poetry and abstract painting. I am also a co-founder of a DIY record label, Sauna Suit Recordings. 

Artist Statement: Since I was little, I have associated emotion with colors and compositions. My expression of emotion through my art is different depending on the medium I use. In my photography, emotions are best conveyed through a deconstructed and recontextualized composition. Unlocking and pushing boundaries of how to convey what we already see everyday. 

In painting, my expression lies in the hands of color. Expressing the raw comings and goings of thoughts and emotions through intentional incorporation of mixed media, the avoidance of using brushes, focusing on texture and bright shades of color. Because of this, I am able to pinpoint emotions or moments I experience through day to day monotony and excitement and create a memory. The work becomes a reflection of that moment in time.

Poetry becomes the vessel for both mediums, inspiring what I create or deriving from what I create through other mediums.