MFA 2025 Artists MFA 2025 Artists: Jillian McEvoy

About Jillian McEvoy

Jillian McEvoy is a ceramic installation artist and current MFA candidate in Ceramics at UMass Dartmouth. Growing up as a self-proclaimed “science fair kid” in New Jersey and New York, she developed a love for experimentation, discovery, and nature from an early age. McEvoy received her BFA from SUNY Cortland in 2019, where she was first captivated by the medium of ceramics and its inherent experimental nature. She now merges the tradition of ceramics with experimental scientific approaches, creating installations that evoke precious personal collections of imagined specimens to reveal the hidden treasures of the natural world.

Statement

Fueled by a deep curiosity and passion for discovery, I make work to reveal the hidden organisms that often go unnoticed. I'm captivated by the intricate forms of microorganisms, insects, fossils, and other creatures overlooked due to their size, environment, or place in natural history, like ammonites, which have been extinct for 66 million years. Through ceramics, I illuminate and magnify these life forms, creating immersive installations that feel domestic and personal, inviting exploration and engagement while hoping to spark a sense of wonder and curiosity in others. 
Drawing from traditional ceramic processes, I use the potter’s wheel to initially create vessel forms that I then alter, bridging human and natural history. By allowing nature to interact with my work—incorporating food sources into clay for insects to consume or growing seeds on vessel surfaces—I highlight often-overlooked or disliked aspects of the natural world. My installations imagine the space of a collector who treasures these peculiar objects, arranging them using things like velvet-lined cabinets, apothecary jars, and decorative tanks to emphasize their significance. This setting invites viewers to reconsider the beauty and importance of these organisms, fostering a deeper appreciation for their hidden roles in our shared environment.

Website: jillian-mcevoy.com

Jillian McEvoy

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