Jan Huling transforms ordinary objects into curiosities, creating whimsical creatures out of knickknacks and found objects. Her elaborate bead sculptures invoke bright, ornamental patterns found in folk art across the world. The radiating, circular motifs recall the tessellating patterns of African textiles while her incorporation of jewels and ornamentation pays homage to Southeast Asian Buddhist architecture. The beads themselves evoke traditional Mexican beadwork and embroidery. The New York-based artist describes her work as a labor of love. Each piece requires hours of patience to cover the curves and irregularities of each object with the tiny beads. With their eye-catching colors and textures, it’s hard not to think about rubbing your hands on one of these fun, tactile works.
