The sheer number of rejected jewels in Cioppettini’s works is indicative of the insatiable demand for and subsequent disposal of stylized adornments. By sourcing her materials in dusty bins of beads, Cioppettini resists the capitalist inclinations of fast fashion, creating work that embodies the endemic of these practices. Critiquing the consumerism of self-expression, the artist makes an aesthetic practice of the neglected objects in our lives — repurposed, recontextualized, rejeweled.
Monica Cioppettini
'ReJeweled'
May 18 - Aug. 22
In ReJeweled, Monica Cioppettini (M.F.A., painting, 2020) uses reclaimed jewelry from flea markets and thrift stores to create maximalist collage works. Reworking the jewelry through an intuitive process of breaking, combining, and rebuilding, Cioppettini revalues objects that have been deemed worthless and unwanted, reveling in their histories and significance as sites of memory. Rimed with rust, grime, cracks, and imperfections, the works reveal their relationship with time and encourage moments of nostalgia.
In ReJeweled, Monica Cioppettini (M.F.A., painting, 2020) uses reclaimed jewelry from flea markets and thrift stores to create maximalist collage works. Reworking the jewelry through an intuitive process of breaking, combining, and rebuilding, Cioppettini revalues objects that have been deemed worthless and unwanted, reveling in their histories and significance as sites of memory. Rimed with rust, grime, cracks, and imperfections, the works reveal their relationship with time and encourage moments of nostalgia.
Monica Cioppettini, "Cadillac," 2020, costume jewelry, silver chain, and glass bead medium on panel, 8 x 8 in.
About the artist
Monica Cioppettini (b. 1994) lives and works in Savannah, Ga. She holds a B.F.A. in fine arts from Monmouth University, New Jersey, and an M.F.A. in painting from SCAD. Cioppettini has exhibited work in group shows in New York and Georgia. ReJeweled is her first solo exhibition.
Credits
Monica Cioppettini: ReJeweled is curated by Ben Tollefson, associate curator.
Museum Admission
The exhibition is free for museum members and SCAD students, faculty, and staff with a valid SCAD Card. Open to the public with the cost of museum admission.
