Artist Bio

Jo Willis is a trans-disciplinary maker investigating magic and transformation. He received his BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in May 2023. Willis has exhibited his work in cities such as Madison, WI, Milwaukee, WI, Manchester, NH, and Petaluma, CA, and curated shows in Milwaukee at the Gray Area and Some Fools. Willis’ work combines the primitive and technological, seeking a form of object-making that honors both the past and the future.

Artist Statement

I find myself surrendering to images, objects, and processes. This surrender extends beyond chance and randomness, although the work hasn’t taken a form; it has always been there. It condensates, ruminates, and drips down into something tangible.

To make digital images, I use downgraded Photoshop and its 3D modeling tool features. This makes models and textures that are glitchy and strange. The limitations imposed in this workspace force me to find different paths to get new results. They stop me from being too specific and allow room for unpredictable outcomes.

My process feels similar across mediums. Like images condensating, I can also feel a sculpture start to gather. It feels like a headache, or static. I find that I make the most compelling work when I impose restrictions. I will find an object, make a mold, or stick to a specific material. Often, I push material to failure in order to find more creative pathways for making.

Making work feels like a guidance of energy. This energy feels alive, rich, and unbridled. Ultimately, my practice serves as a search for this feeling – the conjuration of idea into form.