
Kimberly Camp
I Am My Own Magic, 2021
Stoneware, embroidered cotton eyelet, Battenburg lace, glass beads, polymer clay, white metal beads, canvas
81.3 x 30.5 x 25.4 cm
Copyright The Artist
Kimberly Camp’s shamanistic dolls appear to be whimsical, magical creatures, dressed up in fanciful outfits and so playful in their demeanor that, at first glance, one might liken them to...
Kimberly Camp’s shamanistic dolls appear to be whimsical, magical creatures, dressed up in fanciful outfits and so playful in their demeanor that, at first glance, one might liken them to cute, cuddly toys. However, looking past the outer layer of whimsy and glamour, we find allusions to the historic struggles for dignity, equality and basic human rights faced by women, African-Americans, and other minority groups. Even in their adornment, using beads that were once traded for slaves’ lives, Ms. Camp transforms the instruments of our ugliest acts into symbols of strength and beauty.