Eva Foldy was born and raised in the American Midwest.
She received a BFA in Printmaking from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2016.
My secular upbringing left me with few tools to understand the concept of faith. In the past few years, I’ve been exploring the Abrahamic religions, like the Judaism and Catholicism of my lineage, as well as European Paganism to find my own spiritual path. I find the stories, symbology and fetish objects to be sources of inspiration as I wrestle with how to process current circumstances though an Americana lens. When my paintings aren't exploring specific stories, they focus on subjects that are treated with reverence and dignity even when existing in the material world of the regular and overlooked, drawing in part from church-sponsored creations.
In my 3D works, I repurpose materials “imbued” with energy through their practical use, like a form of witchcraft, for seductive and protective purposes. As their sculptural bodies relate to my corporeal one, representations of whiteness and gender are reflected and subverted through use of materials like hair extensions, denim, and press-on nails. The scale of my work is humble, as are the subjects of the paintings and the sculptural materials used.
By playing with compositional depth in my flat works and the language and material contrast in the sculptural work, I aim to capture a struggle with an intense craving to connect with another person, the planet, and the divine, and the vulnerability that comes with doing so. There is sometimes fear and violence, but also moments of beauty where it still lingers.