Many key physically and psychologically developmental moments take place within the private enclosure of the domestic bathroom. It is the only place in many homes where a person—especially children and adolescents—can experience the true privacy needed for physical self-examination. It persists as a space that accepts arousal and sensuality while also providing a sense of safety, comfort, and private experience. These occurrences end up permanently interlacing one’s psyche and the bathroom—its sterile nature, soft porcelain fixtures, and cool surfaces—as the transition into adulthood is finalized. My work investigates and expands upon these pivotal moments, questioning what it means to have this architectural space intrinsically tied to the initial development of a person’s sexuality. By extracting common bathroom objects from their traditional context and inserting them into an art space, my work creates a psychological dissonance between our familiarity with the forms and our usual encounters with them. Intervening by arranging objects in uncomfortable proximity to each other, the sculptures become anthropomorphized and referential to a body or bodies.

This work “Untitled” by Krista Anderson-Larson was selected by the Rockford Midwestern Biennial juror, Jim Dempsey, as one of two recipients of the Juror’s Choice Award. Come in and see this piece, and listen to Krista discuss the work through our free app available at app.cuseum.com/rockford-art-museum. @kristaandersonlarson