2026 Senior Exhibition Artists 2026 Senior Exhibition Artists: Katelynn DeLeon

About Katelynn DeLeon

Katelynn DeLeon is a multidisciplinary artist based in New England graduating with a BFA in the Integrated Studio Arts program at UMass Dartmouth. Her work across different mediums explores light as a notion of complexity and abstraction within more directly representational forms.

Statement  

Because we know that there is light, we also know that there is darkness. From warmth there is cold, from comfort there is pain, from safety there is fear, and from life there is death. My work focuses on form as a vessel for that light, serving as a physical metaphor for the emotion it evokes. It acts as a reminder of dichotomies that exist in our world and our relationships.   

While I work across multiple mediums, my recent focus has been largely in sculpture, as three-dimensional forms create a sense of reality for the viewer that can be more difficult to replicate two-dimensionally. I explore different ways of building environments to fully immerse people in my work, pushing a sense of awe and connection that feels personal and distinct.  

The materials I use are a mix of delicacy and softness; thin layers of tissue paper create vulnerable animal forms that are further contextualized by the plush rugs on which they lay. The diffuse, warm light that the creatures emit grants them a sense of mortality, begging for protection. The scene presented is a peaceful one, yet the fragility of the implied life evokes a spiritual presence. The juxtaposition between predators and prey in an intimate setting of precarious balance builds tension that ultimately encourages viewers to look deeper into what’s in front of them. 

@k.deleon_art