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monika hedman
  • home
  • about me
  • instagram
  • press and recognitions
  • get in touch

great barrier reef

2018 - age 19

digital

written in the stars

2017 - age 19

gouache

16 x 20

the reef in perspective

2018 - age 19

gouache on wood

24 x 24 x 12

this piece is an anamorphic painting of my digital piece titled “great barrier reef” (find it here). when looking at the piece from one specific angle, it appears as if the paintings are two circles. but, from every other angle, the circle is broken and distorted.

modern romance

2017 - age 19

brush pen, ink, watercolor

30 x 40

water bear studios

the quiet green

2018 - age 19

gouache

8 x 10

in deep water

2017 - age 19

ink, watercolor, gouache on rice paper

terminal : artist book

2017 - age 19

acrylic, ink and spray paint on laser-cut acrylic

text on the inside of the box:

terminal

the tragedy of the great barrier reef

the great barrier reef is the largest living structure in the world. it is approximately the length of the east coast of the united states and can be seen from space. the 2,900 individual reefs making up the great barrier reef lie along the coast of australia.

coral are animals that rely on algae living in their tissue for food and nutrients. the algae gives coral their brilliant color. but, when the ocean temperatures rise just 2º c above the average, the coral expel their algae and lose their color, or bleach. if conditions return to normal, coral can recover from mass bleaching. but if too many bleaching events occur in a short time period, coral die and seaweed population skyrockets. brown, hazy seaweed forests are left on the skeletons of dead coral.

when this happens, the reef can no longer support the other species relying on it, and the area loses almost all of its biodiversity. in addition to absorbing heat from the atmosphere, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and converts it into carbonic acid, which causes ocean acidification. once the ph of the ocean is low enough, coral skeletons become soluble in seawater. then, they will dissolve, acting like a giant antacid tablet.

the great barrier reef has been deemed terminal. this is the beginning of a collapse of the entire ecosystem, because without a healthy ocean we do not have a healthy planet. catastrophic global warming has arrived. the sixth mass extinction is already underway, and corals are only the first victim. the death of the great barrier reef needs to mean something.

cathedral and six houses

2017 - age 19

hand cut paper, board

20 x 30 x 12

wood sculptures

2018 - age 19

balsa wood

approx. 3 x 4

constellation body chain - wearable container

2018 - age 19

silver with steel ball

self portrait in clay

2018 - age 17

clay with oil paint, acrylic, wine, instant coffee, shoe polish

coral shadow project

2017 - age 19

laser cut cardstock and ink

longfellow: iced over

2018 - age 19

gouache

9 x 12 each

providence river

2018 - age 19

wood, copper, screws, string, paper

39 x 9 x 9

teabag neckpiece

2018 - age 19

aluminum and silver

oktoberfest brooch

2017 - age 19

copper

the bee initiative

2017 - age 18

mixed media and encaustics on live edge wood

various sizes (~12 diameter / 12 x 12 for the rectangular pieces)

 

in 2016, bees were been added to the endangered list for the first time in history. bees are dying; this fact is indisputable. the “bee plague,” known as colony collapse disorder, has been caused by humans. until now, the bee crisis has been seen as a niche concern. but, the plight of the bees and other pollinators is threatening the survival of earth’s entire ecosystem. in my concentration, i portrayed bees using varied imagery as to raise awareness for the importance of protecting the bees.

20 minutes of action

2017 - age 18

acrylic, gouache, ink

18 x 24

bear series

2016 - age 17

mixed media on scratchboard

9 x 12 (all)

we're synergic (#7) is a scholastic art awards national silver key award winner

 

this series is a representation of the relationship and similarities between humans and animals in order to raise awareness for endangered species. animals have never been in greater need of human compassion. today, we have a parasitic relationship with animals, as many believe the success of humans is contingent upon urbanization and destruction of nature. but, we must form a symbiotic relationship with other creatures, because for each species that dies out, we lose a piece of ourselves.

national parks awareness poster

2017 - age 18

linoleum cut reduction print

limited edition print

12 x 16

purple: 5 prints

grey: 4 prints

green: 5 prints

locker room talk

2017 - age 18

acrylic, ink, gouache

18 x 24

anxiety infographic (scholastic art awards national gold key award winner)

2015 - age 16

illustrator

national scholastic art awards national gold key winner

watercolor skeleton

2016 - age 17

watercolor

18 x 18

the deathless song of unfulfilled longing (scholastic art awards national gold key award winner)

2016 - age 18

books, wire, led lights, cacti

48 x 24 x 12

in this piece, i aim to speak to something deep within all of us: the unfulfilled longing that lies at the heart of the human experience. the man suspended between two contrasting scenes represents its inescapability and the inevitability. this type of longing comes in many forms, and can represent anything. we may attach such longing to a person or object, whether it be from our past or future. or, we may experience it as a nonspecific, vague restlessness that lingers like mist. But, whatever that longing represents, we will pursue it despite the fact that it will never be fulfilled. even when attached to a person, object, or outcome, the feeling is greater than the individual; it’s inherent to the human condition. regardless of its association, unfulfilled longing is the manifestation of a cosmic force larger than we are. 

scholastic art awards national gold key award winner

book cover redesigns

2017 - age 18

monotype printing, illustrator

apocalypse

2017 - age 18

encaustic

each piece is 8 x 8

larger than life

2016 - age 17

acrylic paint and house paint on recycled pallets

36 x 36

i used zhenya gershman as inspiration for this project. read her interview that inspired me to make this piece.

daughter of the moon

2016 - age 17

white charcoal on black paper

18 x 24

please tell the turtles we're sorry

2016 - age 17

made completely out of plastic bags

this is a life size kemp's ridley sea turtle. their main causes of death are entanglement in fishing nets and the ingestion of plastic.

 

loss

this piece is part of medicine wheel 25: a day without art.

2016 - age 17

acrylic and black marker

48 x 48

challenge: create a 4 foot by 4 foot panel to become part of a mural to line the walls of the cyclorama at the boston center for the arts.  work should be based in bearing witness, testimony, remembrance, love, loss, longing and survival. limited palette of black and red.

in the background, i repeated a quote from a prayer for owen meany. read the quote below:

“when someone you love dies, and you’re not expecting it, you don’t lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a long time — the way the mail stops coming, and her scent fades from the pillows and even from the clothes in her closet and drawers. gradually, you accumulate the parts of her that are gone. just when the day comes — when there’s a particular missing part that overwhelms you with the feeling that she’s gone, forever — there comes another day, and another specifically missing part.”

the united states government and climate change

2017 - age 18

illustrator

domesticated pollution polyptych

2016 - age 17

ink, charcoal, gouache

9 x 12 (all)

future reflections

2016 - age 17

acrylic paint, charcoal, torn paper

18 x 24

boston university visual arts summer institute

inspired by olmsted

2016 - age 17

ink on gesso

18 x 24

created for the inspired by olmsted contest. 

"on august 25, 2016 we celebrate the 100th birthday of the national park service (nps) and its founding law, the 1916 organic act. the year-long celebration of nps's centennial aims to engage the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates. we at frederick law olmsted national historic site invite local high school students to play a role in this centennial year by helping us honor the importance of the organic act, authored in significant part by frederick law olmsted, jr.

"to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

-frederick law olmsted, jr.

1916 organic act, section 1

these words are considered the mission statement of the national park service.

how do olmsted, jr.'s words inspire you?"

bottle of red, bottle of white (figure study)

2016 - age 17

oil paint

11 x 14

boston university visual arts summer institute

face study

2016 - age 17

oil paint

9 x 12

boston university visual arts summer institute

plant study

2016 - age 17

oil paint

9 x 12

boston university visual arts summer institute

lemon study

2016 - age 17

oil paint

9 x 12

boston university visual arts summer institute

textural still life

2016 - age 17

mixed media

16 x 20

skull study

2016 - age 17

vine and compressed charcoal

18 x 24

boston university visual arts summer institute

drapery study

2016 - age 17

vine charcoal

18 x 24

boston university visual arts summer institute

charcoal portrait

2016 - age 17

vine charcoal

18 x 24

boston university visual arts summer institute

mixed media figure study

2016 - age 17

acrylic paint, torn paper, and tape on cardboard

18 x 24

boston university visual arts summer institute

the irony of the cheshire cat (repetition with variation)

2015 - age 16

watercolor

18 x 24

opa

2016 - age 17

charcoal

18 x 24

wolf bite

2014 - age 15

mixed media

18 x 24

spaces and places

2015 - age 16

acrylic paint

11 x 14

figure study

2016 - age 17

charcoal

36 x 48

boston university visual arts summer institute

personalized book plate

2014 - age 15

adobe illustrator

design used to create a rubber stamp

whale low poly

2015 - age 16

illustrator / photoshop

low poly is short for low polygon. low poly is a polygon mesh primarily used in 3D computer graphics that has a relatively small number of polygons. low poly meshes occur in real-time applications (e.g. games) and contrast with high poly meshes in animated movies and special effects.

south sudanese girl

2015 - age 16

graphite, graphite and acrylic paint

16 x 20

the south sudanese girl was created for the canvas peace project, a foundation that raises money and awareness for the women and children in south sudan.

inspired by michael shapcott

views of providence: quilted

great barrier reef

— view —

coral_split.jpg

written in the stars

— view —

the reef in perspective

— view —

modern romance

— view —

water bear studios

— view —

bear_final.jpg

the quiet green

— view —

in deep water

— view —

terminal : artist book

— view —

cathedral and six houses

— view —

cathedral_3.JPG

wood sculptures

— view —

smoothie_NF_10.JPG

constellation body chain - wearable container

— view —

self portrait in clay

— view —

coral shadow project

— view —

longfellow: iced over

— view —

providence river

— view —

provriv_full_4.JPG

teabag neckpiece

— view —

Monika Hedman3.JPG

oktoberfest brooch

— view —

the bee initiative

— view —

bee+11.jpg

20 minutes of action

— view —

bear series

— view —

concentration 5 300.jpg

national parks awareness poster

— view —

locker room talk

— view —

anxiety infographic (scholastic art awards national gold key award winner)

— view —

Infographic.png

watercolor skeleton

— view —

skeleton 300.jpg

the deathless song of unfulfilled longing (scholastic art awards national gold key award winner)

— view —

book cover redesigns

— view —

things fall apart.jpg

apocalypse

— view —

larger than life

— view —

daughter of the moon

— view —

please tell the turtles we're sorry

— view —

turtle back 2.jpg

loss

— view —

the united states government and climate change

— view —

infographic.png

domesticated pollution polyptych

— view —

future reflections

— view —

MonikaHedman2 (1).jpg

inspired by olmsted

— view —

olmsted.jpg

bottle of red, bottle of white (figure study)

— view —

art-161010-10.JPG

face study

— view —

art-161010-18.JPG

plant study

— view —

art-161010-16.JPG

lemon study

— view —

textural still life

— view —

textural still life 300.jpg

skull study

— view —

art-161010-29.JPG

drapery study

— view —

art-161010-23.JPG

charcoal portrait

— view —

art-161010-31.JPG

mixed media figure study

— view —

MonikaHedman5.jpg

the irony of the cheshire cat (repetition with variation)

— view —

repetition with variation 300.jpg

opa

— view —

opa.jpg

wolf bite

— view —

wolf bite.png

spaces and places

— view —

spaces and places.JPG

figure study

— view —

MonikaHedman1.jpg

personalized book plate

— view —

ex libris wood.jpg

whale low poly

— view —

whale lowpoly.png

south sudanese girl

— view —

_DSC4388.jpg