ARTIST STATEMENT
My work uses replicas of rocks as an examination of trauma and interpersonal relationships through the making process. Primarily created through paper pulp sculptures, I sift through my childhood collection of rocks for visual inspiration. Textures both smooth, soft, jagged, and worn influence the process of recreating objects associated with past neglect in an attempt to reform memories and assess familial relationships. The work mimics the process of erosion by using paper, an already fragile medium, and breaking it down to then make it whole again with the fragments of its original self.
Just as stone is shaped through sediments pressed together over time, trauma can shape a person into a more resilient version of themselves. This process of unbecoming and rebecoming functions as a cathartic attempt to revisit broken familial structures and to find moments of joy and tenderness lost. New memories are formed, filling in the gaps and offering an opportunity to care for myself as I nurture the work and reshape painful memories through this labor of love.
BIO
Aileen Khuu (b. 2004) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Dallas, Texas, working primarily with paper pulp sculptures. She earned her BFA in Studio Arts from the University of North Texas in 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she was actively involved in the Denton art community through spaces such as the Denton Maker Center, The Art Room, and the Greater Denton Arts Council where she supported studio operations and fellow artists by offering her time and experience. Since graduating, Aileen has expanded her presence in the Dallas–Fort Worth arts community. She is currently a member of the McDermott Fellows Cohort 2, works at the Dallas Museum of Art, and continues to exhibit throughout the DFW metroplex.