By: Shelby Coulter
Logan Lott was born and raised in Valdosta Georgia by a family with not much interest in art. She says, “I am the oddball of the family for sure. No one in my family or extended family has ever had much interest in the arts beyond craft projects.” As far as she can remember, Logan has always had a passion for art. She grew up as a big fan of pop artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein. She is also fond of Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, and many other women artists. Logan is heavily influenced by many different art movements such as Dadaism, Surrealism, Pop Art, Postmodernism, and Contemporary art.
Logan’s preference in media is graphic design, printmaking, and photography. She prefers to work with daylight and begins her artistic process with media consumption. She says, “Consuming media is a big inspiration for me. Reading about current events and important topics and formulating my own thoughts about those things is what starts my process.” She continues, “I like to consider more than one perspective of a topic and ask myself questions like these: Why is this important? Who is this important to? What kind of statement do I want to make? What kind of conversation can I create?” Once an idea sparks, Logan proceeds with a pencil, a sketchbook, and begins sketching.
When Logan entered college, she didn’t have a clear vision of why she created art about pop media and culture. However, as she progressed in her college career, that vision has become much clearer. She explains, “Learning what I have learned in college, I’m beginning to understand the purposes of my work and I think that has helped elevate the style and direction that my art is evolving into.”
As a graduating senior, Logan is currently exhibiting her work at Valdosta State University’s 2020 online Senior Show. The exhibition is online due to the pandemic, but that surely does not take away from the fierceness of Logan’s work. Logan has displayed ten pieces including graphic design, printmaking, and photography that is paired nicely with a strong artist statement.
Logan’s slideshow of artworks begins with a digital illustration, New American Gothic. This piece modernizes Grant Wood’s American Gothic by including diverse people. Logan explains her intention of this piece, “I wanted to replace Grant Wood’s version of ‘the people he saw living in America’ with the type of people and diversity that I see in America today.” She adds that this piece is special to her because it was the first work that she submitted to an international juried exhibition that got accepted.
Welcome to America is a photograph in black and white that was taken in Jasper Florida at an old motel. The photograph shows a worn-down lighted bulletin sign that reads “WELCOME TO AMERICAN IN” in block letters. The N in American is barely hanging onto the sign. The sign has an arrow pointing leftwards and is surrounded by palm trees. Logan elaborates, “I’ve always had an interest in worn-down, dilapidated buildings. They’re in abundance in South Georgia/North Florida and the local scenery is important to me. In these older places, there are remnants of a life that used to be here that isn’t anymore. It’s crumbling and fleeting and that’s why I feel the need to capture it.” She adds that the motel is still surprisingly functional.
Your Gaze Hits Me Right in the Face is a linocut relief print. The print has a limited color palette of warm colors that surround a woman’s face that looks at the viewer. The text takes place on the right side of the print. It reads, “Your gaze hits me right in the face.” This print is influenced by Barbara Kruger’s Your Gaze Hits Me Right in the Face and Mary Cassatt’s In the Lodge. The woman in the print is purposely looking directly at the viewer with the intention of “reclaiming the gaze.” Logan opens up and says, “I’ve been sexually harassed before and it’s become an even bigger issue in recent times with the Me Too Movement. This piece directly speaks about the violence of the male gaze. By having my female figure directly gaze at the viewer, she is reclaiming the gaze as her own and ignoring all the eyes that are on her.” She continues, “I wanted it to be an empowering piece that any woman who has been sexually harassed can relate to.”
Logan’s work is very versatile and at the same time the pieces are relevant to each other. The influence of being raised in the south and being aware of the current issues in the world around her is evident in her work. Her work has a contrast between a reminiscent nostalgia and what is happening in our modern world. Logan’s artistic successes at Valdosta State University have been acknowledged by many. Many more successes are to come after she graduates. Logan plans to pursue graphic design, eventually return to school to become an art professor, and travel.
Shelby is a BFA in Art senior at Valdosta State University. Shelby will graduate in May 2020 and wants to pursue a career in graphic design.