Marguerite Kahrl

About the Artist

In her sculpture, Marguerite Kahrl approaches systems thinking from a playful angle, manipulating messages and media to instigate social engagement. Her idiosyncratic constructions highlight our complex relationship with energy and the land. For example, Kahrl''s remote controlled vehicles describe a cycle of consumption. These elaborate machines are constructed from junkyard parts and operate on a by-product of organic waste: methane, a landfill gas. At first glance, her Meek and Timid Action Figures resemble toys, yet the figures bear expressions of grief and panic, overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for the bite-sized `nuclear waste'' barrels, included in the accompanying Nuclear Cooling Tower Accessory Kit. Kahrl''s role as a social sculptor can also be seen in her long-term experiment of an off-the-grid homestead located in Maine.

Marguerite Kahrl received her BA/ BFA from the University of Colorado, Boulder and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has exhibited widely in Europe and the US.