Derek Hibbs - January 2018

Artist Statement: My work focuses on bringing attention to the state of survival in today’s society, illustrating various social, political, and personal issues we all face. These societal observations allow the viewer to contemplate purpose, happiness, and daily existence through insightful imagery. These prints are driven by narrative, self-reflection and occasional satire.

I choose to display my ideas in print due to the extensive knowledge it requires to fully utilize the expressive potential of traditional processes like woodcut, etching, and lithography. Printmaking’s unlimited expressive potential offered through its diverse media presents the option of creating multiples of each piece, while working through this process it allows me to develop an image to its best potential. The historical relevance of print as a source of communication that can be distributed to masses is something still effective in our media dominated world. Bringing attention to the looming woes of modernity and current social and political environments are a significant part of print history and culture today.

As a process, printmaking is intensive and constantly changing, which fulfills a desire for accomplishment and excitement. The unique challenges within executing each idea become an intimate experience with materials. The labor over each piece becomes a way out of a stagnant situation, a way to escape the monotonous state of survival and enjoy what I do every day.Artist Bio: Derek Hibbs grew up in the Toledo, OH area and is an artist currently pursuing his MFA in Printmaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI. Derek received his BFA in Printmaking from Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne. Currently working in Lithography, Intaglio, and Relief methods of print media, Derek’s work reflects on daily life, the state of survival, and the power structures that control our world. Derek also has a background in ceramics.

Artist Bio: Derek Hibbs grew up in the Toledo, OH area and is an artist currently pursuing his MFA in Printmaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI. Derek received his BFA in Printmaking from Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne. Currently working in Lithography, Intaglio, and Relief methods of print media, Derek’s work reflects on daily life, the state of survival, and the power structures that control our world. Derek also has a background in ceramics.