Kim Hopson
The Nest
acrylic on round panel
2022
Kim Hopson is an artist based in Brooklyn, NY. In her work she explores themes of physical limitation, otherness, and ableism. Experiencing life with a disability has given her a unique viewpoint that is reflected in her paintings, drawings and collages. Motherhood has made that otherness a more central part of her work.
My limb difference has always been part of the narrative of my work.
Experiencing life with a disability has given me a unique viewpoint on the world and that is reflected in my artwork. In my paintings, I focus on my body’s relationship to the world and my physical and emotional experiences.
Through painting, collage, and other mixed media works, I explore the body as experience through artwork rooted in autobiography. My artwork addresses ableism and disability, and the mental and physical implications of those experiences. In my work, I deconstruct identities that were built for me, not by me, and in turn make a new definition of my identity. The use of colors and patterns in my work are points of transcending struggle. They act as counterpoints to move through the portals of emotion.
Over time my artwork has evolved to include broader themes of physical limitation, otherness, and ableist bias in society. My intention is to create dialogue around these topics. Although my artwork can be uncomfortable, I feel it’s important to communicate my experience with the viewer, to spark a larger conversation.
