ARTIST STATEMENT
Each work I create is inspired by varying aspects of my educational experiences and the media that I consume daily. I find the more recent subject matter of my paintings heavily influenced by my undergraduate studies in design and architecture, as well as the process of making itself. Oftentimes, I find my pieces take on meaning during the process of making rather than reflecting on said meaning beforehand. Themes I contemplate when making include consumerism, waste, irreverence, class, industrialization, and absurdity. As I continue to experience the world and absorb inspiration, I continue to experiment with a variety of mediums and methods of representation.
DESIGN STATEMENT
Throughout my undergraduate studies, I learned the importance of the design process as well as its inherent presence in and impact on our daily lives. The discipline of architecture was a vehicle for learning about design as a whole and allowed me to begin learning about other disciplines such as graphic, furniture, or urban design. I fell in love with iteration and the physical exploration of design problems through sketches, models, and diagrams. I gravitate heavily towards designing, at least initially, on paper rather than using CAD software. I was then able to couple my technical abilities as an artist with this design mindset in a more focused and intentional way.
Bachelors of Design in Architecture, University of Minnesota 2024
Fall 2025 Intern at Midway Contemporary Art gallery in Minneapolis, MN
2026-2027 Art to Change the World Intern
PHVERDOORN@GMAIL.COM
