"My current work is an abstract investigation into what makes up an identity. There are so many things that go into shaping who we are. From stimuli that is both consciously and unconsciously received that we are both consciously and unconsciously aware of, to genetics, to the people we interact with, to the decisions we make. All of these factors plan an important role in shaping who we are – nothing is insignificant.

For many years, an idea that has been an undercurrent in my work is the belief in the removal of the Mask. Throughout my life I have encountered many different people, both young and old, who have worn various masks of all different sizes. Psychoanalyst R. D. Laing once stated, “A man without as mask is indeed very rare. One even doubts the possibility of such a man. Everyone in some measure wears a mask. In ordinary life it hardly seems possible for it to be otherwise.” In our largely homogeneous society, masks are prevalent. While there are situations where a mask may be necessary, it is both upsetting and disturbing when it is not necessary and the individual (and one’s identity) fades away. Through my work, it is my hope to engage the viewer to look into themselves, their own identity, what makes up who they are and its significance."

-Maura Cluthe