Emma Teson

BA Studio Art

My name is Emma Teson, and I am an artist born and currently living in St. Louis, Missouri. I was born on June 22, 1998. I currently attend Webster University and will earn my degrees in Fine Arts and Art Education in 2020.

I am primarily an illustrator and painter, but I enjoy creating all types of art as a way for me to explore and discover the innermost parts of myself to better understand who I am as a human and how those human experiences affect my consciousness. With such an emphasis on presenting the physical body as the facet of being with the greatest value as a result of social media/expectations, I feel that it is especially important to put less emphasis on idealization of superficial aspects of existence, and to stop and reflect on the unique beauty that exists deep within the soul. My work exposes the darker, more reflective, and mysterious sides of humanity, to confront the viewer with imagery that may both attract and haunt him/her all at once.

I have always been inspired by the psychological impact of surrealist works by artists such as Freida Khalo and Salvador Dali. My artwork combines concrete imagery achieved through meticulous detail with looser and more abstract concepts. Combining physical experience with stream of consciousness helps to inform my emotional state and stir inspiration in my brain like the wind that blows through the trees-- unpredictable and fleeting, but I always follow the directions it blows.

Through art, I am able to explore the events and experiences that have shaped myself as a person, deeper than the skin I wear. Through my work, I hope to foster thinking about how even seemingly insignificant experiences affect us, as well as what we, as a society, consider valuable.