As an art student you see a great deal of art, so much so that at times your eyes glaze over. On rare occasions, however, another student’s work stands out and stays with you for years to come.  This is how I came across the work of Joy Kampia O-Shell. I knew her when she was just Joy Kampia and we were both taking the same beginners painting class.

Joy is a master at crochet and her most interesting work is her crocheted food. The fine detail and mastery of the craft  is what drives the work. Everything from the table settings  down to the smallest of cherry steams are fair game for Kampia’s crochet hook.

Joy’s work often stems from humor as well as a whimsical sensibility, which is refreshing in the sometimes stuffy and all too serious art world. Kampia writes, “Because I enjoy the irony between subject matter and material, I have merged my favorite subject matter (food) with my favorite process (crochet). I love food too much to be satisfied with its transience; therefore I am driven to give it permanence through art. I am a passionate advocate for crochet as an art medium–going beyond its traditional uses and exploring its limitless possibilities. By taking both food and crochet out of their ordinary settings, I hope to challenge the viewer’s preconceived notions of their roles.” Her work entreats and seduces the audience to look closer at each piece as well as the place of food in our lives.

To feast your eyes on more of Joy’s crochet creations visit her website at: http://joykampia.com