Meet B.A. Wikoff | Contemporay Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with B.A. Wikoff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi B.A., what matters most to you?
I truly value the relationship between the artist and the art viewer. I thrive on this concept of collaboration, where I either collect data from secondary media sources regarding our population as a whole or retrieve information from individuals firsthand by engaging them with surveys and interviews. I utilize this in my artistic practice through my material and concepts.

My process mainly involves inviting my audience into the artwork to examine different perspectives firsthand. In 2018, I created a piece titled “Insecure Mirrors”. This piece was constructed by surveying individuals to measure their most insecure body parts with a piece of string by estimating the length needed to measure themselves and then comparing it to their measured size. While surveying these individuals, I noticed that engaging in this process helped challenge their perception of body image. The data collected by the strings was printed onto mirrors, where the reflected distortion spoke to the inalienable truth that false realities appear natural but are merely the illusion of expectation.

I use my collaborative practices to stimulate a response in people who experience my work. My objective is to be as inclusive as possible when implementing my process. In 2020, I created this sculpture installation titled “50 Masks Flown at Half Mast.” This hand-sewn flag consists of 50 medical masks that were flown at half-mast during the heart of the pandemic. The piece was created to let people mourn the loss of their loved ones, allowing us to remain close even when 6 feet away.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love sharing my work and having people experience it. I aim to allow my audience to reform their understanding of their role by involving them in my process, I am using these collaborative efforts to start a conversation. I currently hold an AA from Florida Southwestern College and a BFA from the University of South Florida. My artistic background is based mostly in printmaking practices. I love the process of printing!

I am most excited to expand into creating more large-scale installations. I look forward to meeting new people, building a bigger audience, and engaging with a community who are just as excited to be active in my work! I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I believe that if we all work together anything is possible!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my favorite places to visit are the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery located in Fort Myers Florida, then swinging downtown to explore the Artist for Act Gallery, the Sydney & Berne Davis Center, and lastly driving up to Punta Gorda to the Visual Arts Center! We’d end the evening with drinks and dinner on the water across the road at Fisherman Village, as we watch the sunset on the water! A perfect day!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shoutout to all who have supported me and my artistic practice so far. My family, friends, mentors, and all the people who have participated in my process. I am incredibly fortunate to have such an enormous amount of support. Thank you!

Website: https://www.bawikoff.art/

Instagram: @b.a._wikoff

Other: Join the Artist! Sign up for my email list: https://www.bawikoff.art/join-the-artist