Cibo, Vino, E Amore

Found Objects

12"x10"x3"

2025

ARTIST BIO

Linda Popp is originally from Chicago but has lived in the Baltimore area since 1974.
She retired in 2016 after a 41-year career, teaching visual arts with Baltimore County Public Schools (30 years in secondary art and 11 years as the Visual ArtsCoordinator). She then taught in the Maryland Institute, College of Art MAT Program for one year. Linda supervised art education student teachers at Towson University, and then retired again in 2021. She is on the Maryland Art Education Association Council and even has an MAEA Leadership Award named in her honor. Linda has served on the National Art Education Association Council as the Secondary Division Director and Eastern Region Vice-President and is a NAEA Distinguished Fellow.
Since retiring, she has been able to shift her focus full-time to her studio work. Linda exhibits her work in several galleries in Maryland and on the East Coast. She maintains a website, www.lindapopp.com, and www.bakerartists.org/portfolio/linda-popp and presents her work on Instagram @lpoppart. She has had solo exhibits at Gallery Blue Door in Baltimore, and the Leu Gallery, Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and was invited to participate in the Baltimore Assemblage Exhibit at Hamilton Art Gallery. Linda was selected for the "Constructed Stories & Fabricated Forms" Exhibit, Assemblage Sculpture by Eight Regional Artists, January 2024, at Gallery 220 in Havre de Grace. She has created several videos documenting aspects of her assemblage process on her YouTube channel that have been used in classrooms and by individuals. Linda continues to host assemblage workshops in-person and via zoom from her studio. This past year, she presented workshops at Frederick Community College, Towson University, Stevenson University, Belmont University, and the National Art Education Association Conference. This school year, she will be the guest artist at St. James Academy, Monkton, MD.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I create narrative found object assemblage sculptures I use artifacts and symbolic objects to convey stories about relationships with family, place, love, faith, nature, self, time, and other themes. During the process, I go beyond my personal stories and the narrative becomes universal as I feel our stories are all connected. Some objects/symbols are obvious; others may be interpreted by viewers differently as they bring their own experiences to the work. I enjoy the idea that something from my story may cause others to reflect on their own narrative. Reflection on personal narratives in order to better understand self and others is a very powerful experience that continues to draw me to the studio and my work. I have come to trust my collecting and allow objects to come to me during the art-making process. Many of the titles of my work come from music, books, and poetry that then guide my intention as I assemble my found objects.

As Zora Neale Hurston states, we are each "a jumble of small things priceless and worthless." We can share our experiences, our hopes and dreams, our fears and loves, through objects we collect along the way. Being a woman and of a certain age, I attempt to share my unique perspective in my work. I am resilient and have first-hand knowledge to share. In the "Blue Zones" where people live the longest, one of the characteristics that they share is a sense of purpose. I am extremely grateful for the sense of purpose my artmaking gives me.

www.lindapopp.com

www.bakerartists.org/portfolio/linda-popp

https://www.instagram.com/lpoppart/