Leslie Shershow’s work explores kitsch with an awareness that sentimentality alone may not be enough to sustain us. This examination is articulated via a series of shimmery distractions varying in both complexity and magnitude.
In reflecting on her work, Leslie Shershow writes,
“In the 19th c., a collective melancholic sense of loss came to fruition – it was popular to collect souvenirs of an imagined Atlantis. Fragments of a lost civilization allowed the collector to fantasize about a past that did not exist, generating longing for it, which motivated further collecting. Like the Victorians, my longing for fantasy is insatiable. Guided by horror vacui, the fear of empty spaces, my work exposes an insatiable seeking, and a desire to evade unwanted thoughts by distracting myself with things. Iconography from collected aspirational imagery is interpreted in metal, emphasizing a craving for opulence and escape. It comes together in an articulated, chaotic, and often indiscernible jumble, representing a put-on magic, and an attempt to aggressively find joy within my work. "
Drifter Neckpiece
Aluminum, iridescent film, & resin
Wavepool
Aluminum, iridescent film, resin, brass, paint, & cord
Dark Course
Aluminum, iridescent film, & resin
Cascade
Aluminum, iridescent film, steel cable, sterling silver, resin, & nylon strap
Earlier work is presented simply – flowing, iridescent strokes that suggest sublime wonderment that is both breezy and predictable. As the series continues, Shershow begins to challenge this balance as once-pristine geometry begins to break into smaller shards. The articulated pieces form densely packed outlines resembling familiar shapes and icons, transforming the glittering pool into opulent noise.
There, there
Nickel, silver, aluminum, steel, luminescent film, resin
Disclosed & Hello/Surrender
Copper, silver, aluminum, luminescent film, resin, leather
Fringe Necklace
Copper, aluminum, iridescent film, resin, faux pearls
The work investigates the self-perpetuating nature of longing, whether it be for a different time, place, feeling, or circumstance. While true catharsis is rarely tenable, we’ll still bask in the glow of what could or should be.
Watching you
Copper, aluminum, nickel, luminescent film, resin
Stop/Hello
Copper, silver, aluminum, luminescent film, resin, leather
Squiggly Brooch & Rainbow Brooch
Steel, luminescent film, resin
Spiral Brooch
Steel, luminescent film, resin
Leslie Shershow is a jeweler and educator whose projects explore themes of memory, nostalgia, longing, and the souvenir. Originally from midcoast Maine, she received her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and her MFA from San Diego State University. She has taught at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, New Mexico State University, and is currently a lecturer at San Diego State University. Her work was included in the Schmuck 2022 exhibition in Munich, and her first solo exhibition was at Sienna Patti in 2023.