Bio
Plastik Olives also known as Paige Ellens is an artist living in Memphis, TN. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a BFA in Studio Art in the Spring of 2020. She also recently completed her first artist residency at Brickscape in West Virginia. Ellens has exhibited throughout the Midsouth in exhibitions such as “Art of Science” and “Best of Memphis”. Her work has been shown across Tennessee at the Memphis College of Art, Middle Tennessee State University, Marshall Arts, and Crosstown Arts. Recently, she has completed murals under the moniker Plastik Olives as well as Banana Plastik, a collaborative mural team with Banana Cult (Ivy-Jade Edwards).
Artist Statement
Drawn to nostalgia, my work delves into the human experience, through my own personal identity. As time goes by, my memories progressively dwindle into a singular image or a short summary in my disorganized mind, never really a complete recollection. Making art in any form reminds me of where I came from and where I'm at now. Much of the inspiration for my work, including paintings, sculpture, and video, stems from pop culture, a range music and cinema spanning various decades. Whether it be a line from a film, a toy you used to play with, or an old song - we project our own ideas into the work, looking for symbolic evidence of our own memories. Growing up, watching movies and listening to music was a way to escape and enter another world. I was thrown into another individual’s life experiences and provided a scenery both far from and reminiscent of my own. Stanley Kubrick’s films, The Shining and A Clockwork Orange, have greatly influenced my work. Kubrick’s use of symmetry, design, and color all provided a desired aesthetic that was thoughtfully selected. As an artist, the process of making work with the level of detail I strive for takes time, precision, and a continued obsession.
Artist Resume
| paige_ellens_artist_resume.pdf |