Work by Shawn Campbell

Few things embody Americana like the Myth of the American Cowboy. The Cowboy, like the American Dream, is something that has been assembled to present to the masses as a way they should forge themselves to become something better. These ideals include but are not limited to being honest, hardworking, being a gentleman, being tough, and being short and to the point. The silver screen along with printed materials and radio are devices that firmly planted the Mythos of the American Cowboy into the psyche of the public. In today’s information driven technological society, it is easier than ever to push a button and be transported into a former era. These tools of mass communication anchored an idealized character and symbolism of America within western ideology. One could easily place themselves into the boots of the American Cowboy and envision themselves wandering the vast openlands, a fundamental component to the mythos. This capability has not only allowed facts and tales of the American Cowboy to become larger than life, but also allowed tall tales to become facts and facts to become lore. Through the lens of the American Cowboy and its relationship to popular culture, politics, history, and mythos, Shawn Campbell explores new ways of making and engaging with viewers in order to address complex, problematic topics.

Shawn Campbell is an artist based in Atlanta, Georgia.  He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Photography from The University of Akron and a Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in Studio Art from The University of Georgia. Campbell’s work engages with mythology, military, football, religion, propaganda, and government by exploring their threads while also weaving them together to form and uncover unexpected relationships. Borrowing from the aesthetics of Minimalism, Baroque, Pop Art, and Byzantine iconography, Campbell’s work utilizes a variety of mediums including photography, sculpture, video, installation, and painting. The work is able to function in a broad and open manner due to its recognizable media and art-historical references, presenting questions and granting the viewer the opportunity to connect with the work openly.