It's A Sin

Author/Artist Name

Jamie Rogers, Murray State UniversityFollow

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Fall 10-31-2025

Artist Statement

Sex is political. Counter-cultural responses to sexual propriety are often modeled as resistance to conservative values. Many subcultures have a long tradition of opposing mainstream norms, particularly regarding sexual and political correctness. While the association of pain with sexuality dates back to ancient rituals, such as those for 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 materials like rubber, latex, and military or medical gear, with leather fetishism evolving into a distinct subculture. Leather and latex were employed to challenge the perceived innocence symbolized by cotton and lace.

Applying this context as a foundation for my exhibition, I have crafted both wearable and traditional sculptures that aim to explore societal perceptions of sexual agency within the framework of perceived sexual deviancy. Inspired by artists such as Nicole Moan, with her highly detailed corsetry, and Wolfe Von Lenkiewicz, with his dark, surreal paintings that confront traditional aesthetics, I aim for my pieces to be visually appealing yet quietly disturbing.

The central theme of my work is the tension between sexual liberation and conservative hypocrisy. I delve into the ways sexual agency is explored and, in some ways, exploited for political or religious gain. This is expressed through the juxtaposition of the conservative ideology of “keeping sweet”—a philosophy born from fundamentalist Latter-day Saints that has been co-opted by other evangelical circles to teach female subservience and the relinquishment of personal agency— and the comparatively sexually liberated “outside” society. The hard ceramics I create reflect the strong, yet balanced, power dynamics required for fully realized sexual agency.

I employ materials that evoke the foundations of kink: leather, latex, and velvet. Furthermore, I utilize colors like black, red, and gold to evoke ideas of femininity, sexuality, and personal power.

This emphasis has pushed me to creatively combine disparate textures and materials into 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 intended to be visually appealing while provoking a personal conversation with the viewer’s own biases associated with sex and sexuality.

Advisor/Mentor

John Utgaard; Zbynek Smetana; Jeanne Beaver; Norma Colby; Antje Gamble

Description

Anima Contra Animus Ceramic & Found Objects 24” x 36” 2025

Penance Ceramic 11” x 8.5” 2025

Ludavica: Castigare Ceramic 24” x 36” 2025

Mortification Ceramic & found objects 11” x 8.5” 2025

Compulsory Ceramic & leather cord 8” x 5” 2025

Piety Ceramic 11” x 8.5” 2025

Lamashtu and Tiamat Ceramic & Latex 9” x 12” 2025

Contrition Ceramic 11” x 8.5” 2025

Agency Ceramic & Vinyl 11” x 8.5” 2025

Jesus [HE] Knows Me Ceramic 11” x 8.5” 2025

The Fallen Angel: Flagellation Ceramic, leather & steel 1.5” x 35” 2025

Submissive Ceramic & found objects 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, "It's A Sin" (2025). B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498). 157.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art498/157