ARTIST STATEMENT

SAMANTHA TORBAN
Metals / CAD-CAM / Jewelry

As a child, much of my free time was spent either curled up with a book or trekking through the wilderness. Through these journeys, I became adept at combining external and internal worlds—creating whimsical tales with fantastic creatures. Looking to these worlds and pulling from my interest in storytelling, my work focuses on the exploration of alternate realities. I build creatures and objects using a mixture of modern and medieval elements to construct a narrative. Whether I am working two-dimensionally, forming metal, or sculpting polymer clay, intuition and imagination are integral to my work.

I enjoy the physicality of hand-sculpting objects, and I often incorporate it into my metalwork through methods such as wax carving cast objects or forming and shaping sheet metal. My anthropomorphic puppets are constructed by hand using polymer clay and alternative materials. My own vision for each piece acts as the provisionary blueprint for the eventual form. I draw inspiration from multiple sources — both internal and external — and the result is often deeply personal. 

Many of these pieces toe the line between playful and disconcerting. They act as a vehicle for the viewer to transcend reality. 

By melding together different materials, eras, and aesthetics, I aim to distract the viewer from their own perception of time and allow their imagination to take over. It is the viewer’s own perspective that brings each piece to life.