Jamie Rogers Art399 Portfolio

Author/Artist Name

Jamie Rogers, Murray State UniversityFollow

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Spring 5-4-2025

Artist Statement

Sex is political. Here, I view kink as a non-authoritarian resistance to conservative sexual values. This subculture has a long tradition of opposition to mainstream conservative values, particularly those of sexual and political correctness. While the association of pain with sexuality can be dated back to ancient rituals, such as those in favor of the Goddess Inanna in 3000 B.C., the post-World War II era witnessed an exponential growth of sexual fetishism, particularly in BDSM. This period also saw the emergence of fetish material like rubber, latex, and military or medical gear, with leather fetishism evolving into a subculture. Leather and latex were employed as vehicles to challenge the perceived innocence that is symbolized by cotton and lace. Using these materials, I have created wearable ceramic sculptures inspired by the kink community's opposition to authority grounded in history, sociology, and psychology.

Inspired by artists such as Nicole Moan, with her highly detailed corsetry, and Wolfe Von Lenkiewicz, with his dark and surreally challenging paintings that confront traditional aesthetics, I want my pieces to be visually appealing and simultaneously quietly disturbing. The central theme for my work is the idea of restriction. My work delves into the ways in which the body can be constrained and controlled using hard, ceramic components in conjunction with different forms of binding seen in the kink community. Ceramics, as they are hard, cold, and unpleasant, are the ideal medium to counteract the softer, though highly exoticized, textures of leather and latex. This juxtaposition reflects the strong yet balanced power dynamics required in a healthy BDSM relationship. Along with employing materials that evoke the foundations of kink, I use colors like black, red, and gold in my artwork to arouse ideas of femininity, sexuality, and personal power.

This emphasis has pushed me to be creative in combining disparate textures and materials in cohesive pieces, while simultaneously stretching my technical skills in ceramics. Through this focus, I have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with clay: Producing work with the intention of being visually appealing while provoking a personal conversation with the viewers personal biases associated with sex and sexuality.

written: 3.22.2025

Advisor/Mentor

John Utgaard, Jeanne Beaver, Zbynek Smetana, Mike Martin

Description

My work focuses on the inherent conversations between sex, religion, and politics. I explore these topics through the specific idea of BDSM and the various stigmas surrounding the subcultures associated with it through the medium of ceramic and various other materials related to the fetish scene.

Saint Paddle, Ceramic and Gold Luster 2025. 279.4mmX80mm. explores the connections between punishment and religious exaltation via a sgraffito image of a faceless saint onto a ceramic paddle.

Photo Credit

photo credit, Jamie Rogers, 2025.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Rogers, Jamie, "Jamie Rogers Art399 Portfolio" (2025). Professional Practices (ART 399). 175.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art399/175