iChronic – Maria Esswein

Exhibition Dates: November 10 – 21

Reception: November 13, 6p – 8p

Open Hours by appointment

iChronic explores the relationship between one’s perception of real life and their online persona. Using ceramics and digital media, the artist intersects traditional craft with our current fast-paced, evolving digital age. Amid a constant influx of mixed messages, the rise of Generative AI and AI companions, and the demand for instant gratification, the work questions the line between what is considered real, true, factual, and socially acceptable.

Maria Esswein is a Fort Worth-based artist and a Cohort V alumna. She recently joined Easyside as a studio artist and serves on the board of the Texas Sculpture Association. Esswein’s work focuses on gender, art, and social media subcultures through a feminist perspective and a metaphorical presence of “ghosts.” How one interacts with a ghost in real life, pop culture, literature, and other media determines the relationship the individual has with a certain memory or belief. Her recent body of work navigates finding a healthy balance between the virtual and real world.

Instagram – @a_glass_of_esswein