Mediums // Aspen Monet Laboy
Opening Reception 6 - 10pm
6 June - 19 July, 2025
2725 N 62nd St

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺𝘀

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰?
𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵?
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭?

This body of work encapsulates the very things that speak to me and through me. Tying together cultural identity, spirituality, and time, Mediums is a manifestation of what makes us who we are and what we bring throughout our lives. This includes family traditions, childhood memories, religious ideology, and art forms such as music, literature, and film. References to present and future times are subtle, yet the past and its historical contexts are permanently embedded. Beyond the physical materials and what they create, there is another key element involved, which I like to call the “third language.” At first glance, these symbols may appear repetitive and random, but within them lies deep and interconnected meaning. Each piece continues a lineage of understanding, one that interprets identity and existence. Though rooted in our sense of self, we are continuously transforming - expanding our unique voice in the shared language of art.

Artist Statement:
I am primarily influenced by nature, consciousness, and philosophies such as hermetics, metaphysics, alchemy, and numerology. These concepts translate into works that explore environmentalism and identity through the nature of events, the nature of the self, and the natural world. As a contemplative individual, I often question the universe and its interconnectedness, specifically the relationships we have with ourselves, each other, and our surrounding environments. In my work, I do my best to communicate the significance of these relationships, including the possibility of loss due to lack of awareness and action.

Initially a poet, my inspiration is derived from mere moments in everyday life, recording observations, thought processes, and lived experiences. I am drawn to the very nature of things and the transformation of those things - specifically energy, perspective, and physical materials. Glass is the material I sculpt with by repurposing scraps and into three dimensional sculptures, in addition to glassblowing and fusing. Incorporating glass (refraction) and mirror (reflection) with readymade objects is the framework of my installations. Though my mediums are diverse, they intimately overlap, being rooted in awareness, understanding, and relativism.

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Born in Omaha, Nebraska to Black and Puerto Rican parents, Aspen Monet Laboy is an introspective poet and glass artist combining mosaic and collage processes. Their literary and visual work expresses environmentalism and identity, exploring the interconnectedness of the peoples and their surroundings. They have published four poetry books, exhibited in galleries, performed in art hubs, and co-founded the poetry program Corner’s Space held at KANEKO. Several of their selected poems were aired on Friday Live with Nebraska Public Media in 2023, and later became a guest on Riverside Chats through NPR in 2024. They have been awarded two scholarships from Penland School of Craft and were accepted into the 2024 Pilchuck Glass School Auction. An alumni of Amplify Arts, Aspen was part of the 2023-2024 Alternate Currents Cohort, Community Advisory Group, and now serves as a board member for 2025.

www.aspenmlaboy.com / @aspenmlaboy