Meet the Artist
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About
Mariah Nolen is an artist with an MFA from Radford University whose work explores portraiture, landscapes, body image, mental health, and LGBTQIA+ identity. Working across photography, printmaking and sculpted frames, she has spent over fifteen years creating and exhibiting art.
Artist Statement
My work explores mental health, personal life experiences, and more recently, stories from Greek mythology. Photography and printmaking allow me to connect with the world around me and with others who may feel alone in their experiences. Through my images, I try to express emotions that are often difficult to put into words.
I begin by composing photographs using a digital camera and lighting, carefully building the scene before capturing the image. After reviewing my photographs, I select the ones that best reflect the emotions I want to convey. I then bring them into Photoshop, where I adjust the lighting and begin layering additional elements such as scans of handwritten words, artwork I’ve created, and other images.
These layered digital compositions often become the foundation for my printmaking process, where imagery is translated into physical prints. By combining photography, printmaking, and digital manipulation, I create layered images that visually express the emotional weight and atmosphere behind each piece.