Artist Research Paperwork

Mrs. C-Harvey

Date 9/5/16
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AP studio art

Artists Full Name: Jess Riva Cooper

Date of Birth/Death: n/a, 33 years old
Place of Birth/Death: n/a

Primary type of artwork (example: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking,

ceramics etc. )
Sculptural ceramics
Media (What materials were predominately in this artists work?)
Clay, glaze, decals
Style or art period most associated with the artists
Conceptualism (her pieces revolve around the concept of nature taking
over), Realism (her style is very realistic), and Land Art (a focus on the
natural world, but in ceramics instead of natural installations).

Please list in complete sentences personal/interesting information on the artist.

Include education, influences, experiences etc.
Jess Riva Cooper combines clay sculpture, drawing, color, and installation
in her works that currently focus on the human world being taken over by
the natural one. Specifically, shes looked at degrading spaces such as
abandoned homes in Detroit that have become overrun by plant growth.
She says that nature, as shown in her work, bursts forth from quiet
gardens and brings chaos to ordered spaces. She is inspired by many
things, such as science-fiction, travelling, other art, literature, and
teaching. She got an MFA in Ceramic Sculpture from the Rhode Island
School of Design, exhibited throughout Europe and North America, and
was a part of multiple artist residencies. Currently she teaches at
Sheridan College in Oakville.

The Viral Series

Description: This piece has the overall form of a bust of a man, that stops at the
start of his shoulders and slopes inward to create a small pedestal underneath the
bust. The underlying color of the entire piece is white, with two dimensional designs
of curling branches and vines that snake around the form. They are dark, neutral
colors, dark browns and navy blues, and they have the lines in them that mimic the
patterns on leaves. Coming out of the mans nose, mouth, ears, and one of his eyes
are delicate leaves that also appear to have fallen onto his collarbone area and
down his neck. The form of his hair is short, and as it moves from the part to the
ends on his left, the hair appears to be turning into leaves. The sculptural leaves
that are coming out of the man are white, unlike those painted onto him. His mouth
is open as leaves spill out, and his eyebrows are raised slightly, creating an
expression that is somewhat of a gentle surprise, or of release.
Analysis: The dark colors of the two-dimensional leaves and vines against the
white of the rest of the form creates emphasis on the paintings themselves. Theyre
all very organically shaped, and theyre lines and the edges that theyre lines create

move the eye all around the form, even to the places where there is little threedimensional interest. The repetition of the leaf imagery, in both sculpture and
painting, also adds emphasis to the natural aspect of this piece. The transition from
hair texture to the layered leaves creates an almost wave-like rhythm on top of the
mans head.
Interpretation: Knowing background information on this artist, and looking at this
piece, I think that the concept behind this work is in regards to the relationship
between humankind and the natural world. The natural forms and shapes of this
piece contrast (the paintings of the leaves) and also blend (the sculptures of the
leaves) with the form of the man, and I think that says a lot about how we treat
nature and how it responds. In most of our day-to-day lives, we are apart from the
actual natural world, shut away in our homes or at work. Nature is always there, but
it is separate from us, and if we were to stop fighting it it would take over, returning
this world to the way it began. Judging by the expression of the mans face, I would
say that Jess Riva Cooper believes that not only is nature taking over not
necessarily a bad thing, but something that humankind can give in to.
Judgment: I dont think this piece has very much lasting importance. Its a very
unique concept and a beautiful depiction of it, but I feel as if the medium is
overused. The all-white ceramic form with the delicate painting is not new or
surprising, but Im sure that seeing all of the pieces in this Viral Series laid out next
to one another in an exhibition has a very different effect than just critiquing one of
the pieces on its own. Overall, its a well executed combining of 2D and 3D
mediums, but I dont think it will go on to be remembered as significant because I
feel like Ive seen it done before.

New Growth Series

Description: This piece is of a woman, white with short curly brown hair, semirealistic, squatting down as spore-like plant forms grow out of her back and arm.
She is in a pink nighty dress, and one hand reaches down to touch the ground while
the other grazes the back of her neck, possibly to touch the plants. The forms of the
plants are columns that are larger are the top than where they emerge from the
body, and have rounded tops like buds. There are five of them, three protruding
from her back and two from the arm that points toward the ground. They appeare to
ooze green and yellow liquids that have also dripped down the woman, and she has
splotches of pink coloring on her skin similar to what could be a rash. Her facial
expression is empty, her eyes emotionless and her mouth open. The entire piece is
matte except for the gloss of the slime from the pods.

Analysis: The shine of the greens and yellows from the plant forms creates an
emphasis against the matte, neutral colors of the woman. Their organic, basic forms
also contrast against the more detailed and much more recognizable sculptural
aspects of the woman. The pink of what is probably irritated skin also contrasts
against the colors of the plants and their ooze because of red and green being
complimentary colors. The lines created in the ooze move the eye around the piece.
Interpretation: Based on the focus of this artist in particular, and on the piece
itself, I believe that this piece is another depiction of nature taking over. This,
however, is different from her more recent work, in that it has an uncomfortable and
almost invasive feeling to it, whereas the Viral Series was a beautiful blending of
man and nature. The rash to the womans skin and her expression give the feeling
that the plants growing out of her are not welcome, and not something she can
control. The form of her hand fumbling to touch the plants makes it seem like she
cannot stop them. Nature is invasive, and powerful, and as seen in the liquids that
drip from the growths, it spreads.
Judgment: I love this piece. I feel like its a level of art that I can relate to, that if I
really set my mind to it I could make something along these lines, which makes
sense because this is some of Coopers much earlier work. Its sculptural but still
uses some of the quirks specific to the ceramics medium (glaze vs underglaze to
create the shine of the slime). The womans feet dont perfectly touch the ground,
and I dont know whether or not that was intentional, but balancing human figures
has always been something I cant seem to get perfect. I think that this piece has a
lot of lasting potential. Its concept and the emotional aspect of it (it honestly gives
me an itching feeling) are unique and make it memorable. Its clear-cut in its
execution, and the style makes puts it in a zone between cartoony and hyperrealistic that make it relatable and not overwhelming.
Other works:

Sources:
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/04/viral-series-jess-riva-cooper/
http://chromaticontrapposto.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-tale-of-golems-and-dybbuksjess-riva.html
http://www.jessrivacooper.com/bio/
https://alllambs.com/2014/07/22/jess-riva-cooper/