James O’Rourke

My three glazed stoneware works are an exploration of introspection, human connection, and barriers to both.

I am fascinated by the contrast of human internality and externality, the difference between how we are perceived to how we perceive ourselves. This conflict between internal and external does not just apply interpersonally, but also within the self. Obfuscation of one's own emotions is common among the neurodiverse. This leads to an external closing off, as well as a feeling that one’s true self is perpetually just out of reach.

In my practice, I have a heavy focus on glaze technology. This has allowed me to present and model some of the ways that neurodivergent people present themselves and experience the world, while also depicting how those experiences are often harshly viewed by observers. Through my use of form, I seek to evoke a sense of depth that extends beyond an immediate first impression, and invite the viewer to look inside.