Taylor Pilote - Artist's Studio Tour Curated by CFEVA

Join us for an artist's studio tour and discussion with sculptor, Taylor Pilote. Michael Mergen, of CFEVA, will be moderating this immersive and engaging session.

Originally from Fort Erie, ON, Canada, Taylor Pilote holds a BFA in Sculpture from the Lebel School of Visual Arts at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and an MFA in Sculpture from the University of South Florida. Exhibited internationally including the Canadian Sculptors Society in Toronto, MOCA North in Miami, FL, The Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY and the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL where he also presented for Tedx TampaBay. Pilote is a recent recipient of a grants from both the Tanne Foundation and Philadelphia Sculptors. Relocating to Philadelphia in 2015, Pilote renovated a former beer distributor warehouse, founding Pilote Studios, an artist studio building and project space in Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA.

Through the lens of car culture, using the skill set inherent to it, Pilote’s wall mounted aqua-resin sculptures skew automotive and motorcycle references in an ambiguous and nonlinear way. The use of faux-fluid material processes physically distorts recognizable vehicle features that upon deeper investigation reveal ties to the reference subject via nods to iconic characteristics. Marketing ads, shop manuals, historical information along with crossovers between his upbringing and car culture folklore inform the decision-making process. Pilote’s practice juxtaposes growing up in his father’s low-brow auto garage with exploring how contemporary culture engages with symbols of independence, freedom, craftsmanship, customization, and nostalgia.