Rose Elizabeth Wharton (She/They) is an interdisciplinary artist from Tallahassee, Florida who is currently working towards a BA in Studio Art at Florida State University. Rose's work reflects on the inherent importance of objects and materials, and how they give meaning to the human experience. Working across disciplines and driven by material exploration, Rose employs various processes and is informed by manual labor and traditional craft techniques. In her practice, she explores themes of home building, personal identity, family history and being from the South.

As an interdisciplinary artist, my work is driven by material exploration. My work spans from mixed media sculpture, ceramics, welding and carpentry all the way to printmaking, zines, collaging and textile work. With a focus in mixed media sculpture, my work is informed by traditional craft techniques and manual labor, which are often isolated as either masculine or feminine roles. Through employing various techniques and processes I am creating a place where my queerness and androgyny can safely exist within the context of both gender roles, as they hold equal significance in my artistic background and personal identity.

My approach to creating is informed by my experience building a house on my family's land in North Florida, this experience shaped my perspective on the importance of sustainability within my processes. Many of my pieces include repurposed objects and materials that I have accumulated from my family's property. Including these objects in my work not only gives new life to out of commission objects but also illustrates how place shapes my sense of self. These objects dictate my decision making process when choosing other materials to fabricate my sculptures: welded steel, sewn textiles, hand-built and wheel-thrown ceramic forms, woven basketry and hand-carved wood. 

My body of work reflects on a central theme of home building, both literally through the materials and processes I employ, and metaphorically through the themes I explore: personal identity, family history, upbringing, the South, as well as safety, belonging and care. My work considers the inherent importance of objects and materials, and questions how the objects I interact with define who I am and give meaning to my daily life and human experience. For me, my work is a way for me to build a home within myself and the world around me.