Female form and the grotesque with Jamie Lee Girodat

Jamie Lee Girodat is an Edmonton based artist from Lethbridge, Alberta and a current MFA candidate at the University of Alberta. Her artwork is currently showing in Jyvaskyla, Finland, while she prepares for an upcoming experimental show in January at Edmonton’s Parallel Space.

In our interview, she gave me an intimate glimpse into the inspiration and origins of her artwork. 

“I’ve been inspired by the different generations of my family and their experiences of raising kids and going through life,” said Girodat. “Mostly, I’m navigating the uncertainties of female autonomy, family genetics and dialogues with the self in relation to advancing reproductive technologies. I tend to research a lot of areas having to do with genetic editing within the sciences.” 

Her works feature thought-provoking scenes of the female form, juxtaposing them against medical equipment, schoolyard features and beauty care.

“I do a lot of stop-motion animation as well as printmaking because I’m interested in theoretically being able to control time in a looping manner.”

Girodat’s artwork presents human anatomy in a candid, but welcoming light. The grotesque is a style of art that distorts the natural into absurdity, ugliness, or caricature and inspires much of Girodat’s art.

“I see the grotesque as a positive thing which emphasizes how the beginning and end of life are tied together,” said Girodat. “I guess in my work I want the grotesque to be accessible to people. I almost want it to be timid in a sense.”

With every work, Girodat continues to innovate, pushing the limits of her mediums and broadening our common understanding of the increasingly pertinent science of how humans are coming to be. For the intrigued viewer, she will be giving an interactive artist’s talk on February 27, location to be announced. 

After graduating, Girodat doesn’t plan to slow down and hopes to use the skills she has gained to help other artists.  

“I would really hope to be able to teach sessionally and I would like to be able to work more with artist run centers which is something I’ve done in the past. I’m currently working at FAB gallery and I would like to see where my gallery career could possibly take me.”