Derk Wolmuth is a sculptor and installation artist from the Victoria BC Canada who received a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA in 2011 and a BFA from Emily Carr University in Vancouver, BC in 2005. He is informed by a Philosophy BA 1996 and Cultural Studies MA 2021 from Trent University.
He grew up on Vancouver Island’s south coast which embedded him in marine environments and sailing culture. Radicalized by 1980’s punk critique and DIY sensibilities he spent many years carving out unlikely living spaces in liminal zones in which to inhabit. Later he fused deep psychological reflection with a grounding practice and livelihood in woodworking. As a student and then studio assistant to Liz Magor he was introduced to Post-minimalism, Arte-Povera, and Conceptual strategies. During his studies at Carnegie Mellon University he was influenced by Kinetic, Institutional Critique, Relational Aesthetics, and Land Art. Upon graduation he sailed solo across the Pacific ocean in a 32’ sailboat.
His mixed media sculptures and installations include modified found objects, wood, metal, electrical-mechanical components, video, photo, lighting, audio and text. He invites viewers in with theatrical gestures then subjects them to a visceral self-awareness. Along with the conditions of threat objects are crafted with a focused austerity often expressing fears, compulsions, and desires in our currant time. Glimpses of the uncanny and employing movement to mesmerized his work leaves us suspended within uncertainty. His practice engages us both viscerally and intellectually implicating us in and amongst the agency of things.
He us currently enrolled at the European Graduate School program of Philosophy, Art, and Social Thought in Switzerland and Malta with a particular interest in Continental Philosophy, Object Oriented Ontology and Posthumanism.
He grew up on Vancouver Island’s south coast which embedded him in marine environments and sailing culture. Radicalized by 1980’s punk critique and DIY sensibilities he spent many years carving out unlikely living spaces in liminal zones in which to inhabit. Later he fused deep psychological reflection with a grounding practice and livelihood in woodworking. As a student and then studio assistant to Liz Magor he was introduced to Post-minimalism, Arte-Povera, and Conceptual strategies. During his studies at Carnegie Mellon University he was influenced by Kinetic, Institutional Critique, Relational Aesthetics, and Land Art. Upon graduation he sailed solo across the Pacific ocean in a 32’ sailboat.
His mixed media sculptures and installations include modified found objects, wood, metal, electrical-mechanical components, video, photo, lighting, audio and text. He invites viewers in with theatrical gestures then subjects them to a visceral self-awareness. Along with the conditions of threat objects are crafted with a focused austerity often expressing fears, compulsions, and desires in our currant time. Glimpses of the uncanny and employing movement to mesmerized his work leaves us suspended within uncertainty. His practice engages us both viscerally and intellectually implicating us in and amongst the agency of things.
He us currently enrolled at the European Graduate School program of Philosophy, Art, and Social Thought in Switzerland and Malta with a particular interest in Continental Philosophy, Object Oriented Ontology and Posthumanism.
EXHIBITIONS
2023 The Fifty Fifty GROT - Solo show Victoria, BC
2023 Sunday Afternoon Daniel Laskarin Victoria, BC
2022 Form & Ephemera Rockslide Studio Victoria, BC
2015 Outside/Inside Gallery 1580 Victoria, BC
2011 SCALE Trahern Gallery – Austin Peay University Clarksville, TN
2010 SCALE SPACE Gallery Pittsburgh, PA
2010 Escape Pittsburgh Miller Gallery – Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
2009 Magnetic Capsules Ellis Gallery Pittsburgh, PA
2009 Potato/Tomato Future Tenant Pittsburgh, PA
2008 Meet the Made The Mattress Factory Pittsburgh, PA
2007 Peepholes and Periscopes Future Tenant Pittsburgh, PA
2007 The Uncanny Valley Brew House Space 101 Gallery Pittsburgh, PA
2006 New Forms Festival VIVO Media Arts Centre Vancouver, BC
2005 Graduation Exhibit Emily Carr University Vancouver, BC
2003 Awkward Emily Carr University Vancouver, BC
EDUCATION
Ph.D (ongoing). Philosophy, Art, Thought European Graduate School Saas-Fee, Switzerland
M.F.A. 2011 Art - Sculpture Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
B.F.A. 2005 General Visual Arts Emily Carr University Vancouver, BC
M.A. 2021 Cultural Studies Trent University Peterborough, ON
B.A. (Honours) 1996 Philosophy Trent University Peterborough, ON
Diploma 1998 Wooden Boatbuilding NW School of Wooden Boatbuilding PortTownsend, WA
Certificate 2018 Business Admin University of Victoria Con. Stud. Victoria, BC
Certificate 1997 Fine Woodworking Selkirk College Nelson, BC
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2020 Teaching Integrated Arts Trent University
2019 Teaching Contemporary Media Studies Trent University
2010 Teaching Mixed Media Sculpture Carnegie Mellon University
2010 Teaching Advanced Metals Carnegie Mellon University
2010 Teaching Mixed Media Sculpture (Pre-College) Carnegie Mellon University
2009 Graduate Teaching Assistant Kinetic Sculpture (Joe Mannino) Carnegie Mellon University
2009 Graduate Teaching Assistant Visual Culture (Melissa Ragona) Carnegie Mellon University
2008 Graduate Teaching Assistant Small Metals (Carol Kumata) Carnegie Mellon University
2008 Graduate Teaching Assistant Drawing (Andrew Johnson) Carnegie Mellon University
2007 Graduate Teaching Assistant Mixed Media Sculpture (Bob Bingham) Carnegie Mellon University
2023 The Fifty Fifty GROT - Solo show Victoria, BC
2023 Sunday Afternoon Daniel Laskarin Victoria, BC
2022 Form & Ephemera Rockslide Studio Victoria, BC
2015 Outside/Inside Gallery 1580 Victoria, BC
2011 SCALE Trahern Gallery – Austin Peay University Clarksville, TN
2010 SCALE SPACE Gallery Pittsburgh, PA
2010 Escape Pittsburgh Miller Gallery – Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
2009 Magnetic Capsules Ellis Gallery Pittsburgh, PA
2009 Potato/Tomato Future Tenant Pittsburgh, PA
2008 Meet the Made The Mattress Factory Pittsburgh, PA
2007 Peepholes and Periscopes Future Tenant Pittsburgh, PA
2007 The Uncanny Valley Brew House Space 101 Gallery Pittsburgh, PA
2006 New Forms Festival VIVO Media Arts Centre Vancouver, BC
2005 Graduation Exhibit Emily Carr University Vancouver, BC
2003 Awkward Emily Carr University Vancouver, BC
EDUCATION
Ph.D (ongoing). Philosophy, Art, Thought European Graduate School Saas-Fee, Switzerland
M.F.A. 2011 Art - Sculpture Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
B.F.A. 2005 General Visual Arts Emily Carr University Vancouver, BC
M.A. 2021 Cultural Studies Trent University Peterborough, ON
B.A. (Honours) 1996 Philosophy Trent University Peterborough, ON
Diploma 1998 Wooden Boatbuilding NW School of Wooden Boatbuilding PortTownsend, WA
Certificate 2018 Business Admin University of Victoria Con. Stud. Victoria, BC
Certificate 1997 Fine Woodworking Selkirk College Nelson, BC
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2020 Teaching Integrated Arts Trent University
2019 Teaching Contemporary Media Studies Trent University
2010 Teaching Mixed Media Sculpture Carnegie Mellon University
2010 Teaching Advanced Metals Carnegie Mellon University
2010 Teaching Mixed Media Sculpture (Pre-College) Carnegie Mellon University
2009 Graduate Teaching Assistant Kinetic Sculpture (Joe Mannino) Carnegie Mellon University
2009 Graduate Teaching Assistant Visual Culture (Melissa Ragona) Carnegie Mellon University
2008 Graduate Teaching Assistant Small Metals (Carol Kumata) Carnegie Mellon University
2008 Graduate Teaching Assistant Drawing (Andrew Johnson) Carnegie Mellon University
2007 Graduate Teaching Assistant Mixed Media Sculpture (Bob Bingham) Carnegie Mellon University