Hannah Mai Coffey
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Artist Statement
My work is rooted in personal experiences, often reflecting on my family and the things that connect us across generations. Family and culture is such a big part of who I am, a cornerstone of my practice, and it naturally finds its way into my art. Through my practice, I aim to explore stories about the things we pass down, what we inherit and how it defines us. Sculpture in particular, captivates me because it bridges the tangible and emotional—it’s something you can see, touch, and feel, allowing me to embody the physicality of form while also exploring deeper concepts like self-worth, and transformation.Generational femininity is a recurring theme for me, inspired by the women in my life and how their stories are intertwined with my own, the marks both visible and invisible, that shape us. Growing up surrounded by strong, resilient women, I’ve learned to see the ways generational ties shape identity and self-perception. These connections inspire me to look beyond my own struggles and explore broader themes of inherited strength, societal expectation, and the ways we define ourselves through those we come from. My practice is rooted in the belief that art has the power to turn the personal into something universal.My work is about connection to ourselves, to others, and to the generations that came before us, it invites viewers to confront their perceptions of themselves, and society while reflecting on the generational ties that shape their own identities.For the viewer, I hope my work acts as some sort of a mirror, both literally and metaphorically. By engaging with the tactile and layered qualities of my pieces, viewers are invited to step into the vulnerability of wearing one’s skin, flaws and all.I see my own art practice as an ever-evolving journey. I embrace self-exploration, trusting that each new project or piece teaches me something about myself and the world around me.
'Skin is a landscape'
Final year project
My work explores the deeply personal experience of living in one’s skin while connecting it to broader narratives of generational femininity and societal pressures surrounding beauty. Through a wearable latex sculpture, I confronted my own struggles with acne, creating a “second skin” that embodies both the physical and emotional weight of imperfection. It was something I felt “wore” daily but unable to take off, an unavoidable part of my identity at that time. I sewed, stitched, and embroidered beads and pearls into the latex material, integrating details that symbolized both the painful visibility of acne and the deeper stories our skin carries. While some might interpret these embellishments as an attempt to beautify, my intention was not to create something conventionally pretty but to highlight the paradox of skin, its ability to attract attention while also being deeply personal. The act of stitching beads and pearls into the latex became a metaphor for the ways women, across generations, navigate and endure the scrutiny placed upon their bodies and identities.
My aim was to blend beauty and discomfort, reflecting the tension between societal expectations and inherited ideas of self-worth. The circular, vortex-like embroidery evokes a bullseye effect, symbolizing the inescapable gaze of scrutiny that women often face. These patterns also reflect the cyclical nature of generational femininity, how societal pressures are passed down, yet continually reshaped through time and personal resilience.
I explored themes of identity, vulnerability, and transformation. The hooded design of my sculpture conveys both concealment and protection, embodying the isolation tied to societal expectations.
Skin is a landscape
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