Genesis Belanger

New York-based artist Genesis Belanger, known for her soft and muted color palette, creates outlandish visualizations of everyday objects in ceramic. Her work examines visual and consumer culture in contemporary America.

Biography of Genesis Belanger

Genesis Belanger was born in Massachusetts and raised by hippie parents. She was exposed to her father's "weird art' creations in their garage but initially didn't realize that it could become an actual career.

In 2004, Belanger earned her BFA in fashion from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She spent a year working in the fashion industry but soon discovered her preference for designing fashion fair booths over working with clothing itself. This led her into advertising work as a prop stylist, where she contributed to campaigns centered around selling ideas of female allure. Despite her skills in this field, Belanger became disillusioned with the content and left the industry after several years to pursue her MFA in Combined Media at Hunter College in 2012.

The artist has participated in both solo and group exhibitions, showcasing her artistry in various venues. Notable solo exhibitions include "Through the Eye of a Needle" at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Connecticut (2020), "Coins for Ferryman" at François Ghebaly Gallery in Los Angeles (2019), "Holding Pattern" at New Museum in New York (2019), "A Strange Relative: Genesis Belanger and Emily Mae Smith" at Perrotin in New York (2018), and "Cheap Cookie and a Tall Drink of Water" at Mrs. gallery in New York (2017).

She has also been part of group exhibitions such as "Good Pictures" at Jeffrey Deitch in New York (2020), "A Love Letter to a Nightmare" at Petzel Gallery in New York (2020), "No Patience for Monuments" at Perrotin in Seoul (2019), "Distortions" at Nathalie Kang Gallery in New York (2018), and "Happiness and Other Forms of Self-Delusion" at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, New York (2016).

Genesis Belanger's Art Style

Genesis Belanger experimented with various materials, but her encounter with clay made her realize its limitless potential for bringing her imaginative creations to life. This realization became a turning point in her career. Drawing from her early experience in design, she applies a unique approach to her ceramic work. Instead of using a traditional wheel or coiled system, Belanger rolls out pigmented clay into sheets and then employs patterns to cut and shape her objects by hand, reminiscent of her past as a fashion design student.

Belanger's artworks feature pop, satiny finishes, and clever assemblages, influenced by her previous work in advertising. According to Belanger, creating something enticing, straightforward, and interesting with the right color choices is integral to her creative process, and she applies these principles to every piece she creates.