November 14, 2024 - March 15, 2025
Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery
Ent Center for the Arts
Psycullescence:
Patrick Shearn
In my artistic practice, I am captivated by the boundless beauty and complexity of the natural world. Through digital fabrication, I have the power to transform and reimagine nature, distilling its essence into captivating visual expressions.
I take creative liberties, abstracting and interpreting natural forms, patterns, and phenomena in ways that amplify their emotional resonance and visual allure. My work presents a vision of nature that celebrates its inherent splendor. Yet, I consciously employ materials that underscore the unsustainable path humanity has taken in its quest to dominate the natural world. This juxtaposition invites the viewer to reflect on our complex relationship with the environment and the delicate balance we must strive to maintain.
I call this body of work "Hyper Nature," as it transcends the literal representation of the natural world, inviting the viewer to experience it through a lens of heightened emotion and conceptual depth.
View the Gallery Guide for Psycullescence! The guide includes information about the artworks on display, Patrick Shearn, and an original essay about Patrick’s work by GOCA’s Director and Curator, Joy L. Armstrong, Ph.D.
Patrick was featured on Episode 7 of the Springs and Things Podcast! Click the button below to check it out! Available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
IMPORTANT DATES
Exhibition on View
November 14, 2024 - March 15, 2025
Opening Reception:
Thursday, November 14th, 2024, 5-7 pm
VACS Lecture:
Thursday, February 20th, 2025, 6-7 pm
House of GOCA: The Psychedelic Garden
Friday, February 28, 2025
Gallery hours:
Thursday - Saturday, 1 - 6 p.m.
or by appointment
email: gallery@uccs.edu
call: 719.255.3504
About
Patrick Shearn
Patrick Shearn, Creative Director of Poetic Kinetics, is a visionary artist renowned for his captivating, large-scale public art installations that transform urban spaces and engage audiences around the globe. Fueled by a passion for exploring human connection, emotion, and our relationship with the natural world, Shearn creates immersive experiences that inspire wonder and introspection, captivating viewers on both visual and emotional levels.
Shearn’s artistic career started in the film industry, on notable projects such as “Jurassic Park,” “Fight Club,” and “Interview with a Vampire,”. This experience nurtured his creative spirit and honed his technical prowess, ultimately leading him to establish Poetic Kinetics, a collective of talented artists.
A cornerstone of Shearn’s creative process is direct impact, seizing opportunities to spark viewers’ curiosity beyond traditional art spaces. By inspiring wonder, surprise, and unconventional thinking, he imparts knowledge in playful or even subliminal ways. His team has coined this approach as “cerebral detonation,” which captures the artworks’ flirtatious engagement with the observer.
By pushing creative boundaries, Shearn has dedicated his career to crafting awe-inspiring public art. His signature Skynet Series, including the internationally acclaimed “Liquid Shard,” demonstrates his commitment to transforming underused public spaces into bustling destinations. This passion for innovation and audience engagement has resulted in the most iconic art pieces at events like Coachella Music and Arts Festival, EDC, and Burning Man, captivating viewers and garnering viral recognition, as well as features in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, GQ, and Rolling Stone.
Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Shearn’s work explores the contrasts between organic movement and the rigid forms of man-made environments, incorporating cutting-edge technology and scientific principles to create immersive, interactive experiences. With each new project, he continues to redefine the way people experience art, reimagining and revitalizing urban spaces around the globe.
Photos and Videos by Stellar Propeller Studio, Wes Magyar,and Joshua Dorado, for the Galleries of Contemporary Art at UCCS, 2024