Emma Batterman (she/they) is a Chicago based artist, writer, and future educator. Expecting to graduate in Spring of 2026, she attends the School of the Art Institute of Chicago working towards a BFA in Art Education. In her practice, she is attracted to themes of storytelling and interpersonal connection. She takes inspiration from myth and Ancient Greek iconography to portray the human figure as a storyteller. True to her passion for education, Batterman's practice is constantly expanding as she considers learning and growing a life-long experience.
STATEMENT
I am consistently attracted to themes of storytelling and interpersonal connection. I’ve found something significant in attempting to portray the grandeur of human understanding by isolating the tenderness of the subject. Many myths and narratives throughout history become the vessel by which we comprehend the world around us. I am inspired by Classical Greek sculpture, particularly the work of Polykleitos and Praxiteles, and how they present the dramatization of the body to encapsulate lore. I’ve used this approach in my practice, depicting personal and sociopolitical interpretations of these tales to layer the thematic elements of a piece primarily through the use of monochromatic painting and drawing. As a colorblind artist, harboring color metaphorically as opposed to a literal representation allows me to incorporate it in a way I can tangibly interact with.I use digital tools as well as oil, watercolor, graphite, and ink to peel open the layers of experience by means of mixing my own pigments and using mark-making to display the monochromatic figure. As I believe in learning as a lifelong process, I continue to build on conceptual understandings of these grand, mythical stories through research, practice, and constant growth.