Artist Profile

Jill Orlov’s sculptural practice is a culmination of her architectural background and her later embrace of working with metal. Reminiscing about her last year of Masters of Architecture studies, her thesis advisor witnessed her staring at a blank piece of paper on the drawing board. Seeing the frustration, she exclaimed: “draw SOMETHING, stop worrying about making something beautiful and just draw.” This brief quip helps illuminate Orlov’s practice. For as long as she can remember, she has indeed wished to make something beautiful.
As an architect, she designed by making numerous tiny study models. It was a natural progression to become a sculptor of the narrative in miniature. Using miniatures as a medium and a tool, Orlov takes familiar and recognizable scenes, such as those of classic literature and cinema, and recreates them in miniature using off-the-shelf industrial steel shapes that she cuts, carves and welds into chairs, wainscoting, desks, and stairs; what was formerly understood in rich woods, plaster, and fabrics. This is where our understanding meets opposition. Opposing themes, opposing materials, and the most obvious - opposing scales … a devil’s advocate sculptor. A dystopian view is exposed through sculptural beauty.
Miniatures have broad appeal, but their place in the world of Art is not often celebrated. But miniatures encourage intimacy, just as when someone whispers, one must lean in and look closely.
To look closely, to scrutinize; encouraging comparative and analytical thinking.

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