Rose E. Wharton is an interdisciplinary artist from Tallahassee and Monticello, Florida. Rose received their BA in Studio Art from Florida State University. Rose is a recipient of the Mary Brown Ostlund Scholarship and the Berlyn Arnett and Berlyn Ann Henne Award in Art. Rose's work has been in exhibitions in Tallahassee and New Smyrna Beach, FL as well as Somerville, MA. This summer, Rose will be an Artist-in-Residence at Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild and a Mentee of Silver River Center for Chair Caning at John C. Campbell Folk School. In the fall, Rose will be a Ceramics Artist-in-Residence at Access Arts in Columbia, MO.

As an interdisciplinary artist, my work is driven by material exploration and understanding. Utilizing ceramics, mild steel, natural fibers, repurposed textiles, wood, and found objects; I fabricate mixed media sculptures informed by traditional craft techniques and manual labor.

My approach to making is rooted in my family history. I am a third-generation home builder within the Wharton family on our eight acres of land located in rural North Florida. This history goes back to the original dwelling, a four-post cabin my grandparents built in the 70s that now acts as a storage shed for my father. I use this cabin as a place to gather out-of-commission objects, old tools, and materials for inspiration, many of which are incorporated into my sculptures. Additionally, I use my mother’s garden and the Wharton land as a material source; harvesting luffa, and corn husks, and foraging for muscadine vines, and natural fibers to further my work's connection to place and legacy.

In my work, I depict a central theme of home building by reflecting on personal identity, family history, the South, as well as safety, belonging, and care. My work considers the inherent importance of objects and materials; questioning their origins, historical connections, their role in our lives, and how they shape one’s sense of self. Through making, I build a home within myself and the world around me.