I am a sculptor and mixed media artist working in Bristol, Rhode Island. Throughout my educational trek, from Interlochen Arts Academy, to Washington University’s School of Fine Arts, to The Johnson Atelier Technical Institute for Sculpture, I’ve developed an extensive set of skills that have shaped my thinking and my artwork. I’ve explored a variety of mediums: clay, glass, cast metals, fiberglass, ceramics, paper, print, and paint. Because I am fascinated by the way language shapes our inner thought into outward expression, I frequently use texts in my work that both shape the pieces and invest them with layers of meaning. Recently, I spent two months at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris on a residency that allowed me to focus on some smaller, more intimate pieces. Central to this new work is the spiraling form of the spider’s web, its relationship to the worldwide web, and its ability to ensnare.
From Womens Eyes: Blue, Green, Brown, and Hazel 2022
Rice paper, paint, swarovski crystals, and plexiglass 29.5″ x 29.5″ x 2″
Artist Statement
Our binary human nature as both cognitive and physical beings intrigues me and fuels my art practice. Languages bridge the arena of our consciousness with our physical world. This act of transmutation compels me to explore the artifacts of language (letters, alphabets, and texts) as they define this mysterious threshold between mind and matter. In my work, I seek to engage viewers both mentally and physically. The texts composing my spherical and conical pieces spiral in space, encouraging movement — to be circled, to be read, to be drawn into orbit like a celestial body. My labyrinth installation and my giant prayer bead necklace both delineate sacred space and invite the viewer to enter and contemplate. They celebrate our dual nature as being of this earth while participating in a spiritual realm.
Additional Info
Artist Website: robincrocker.com
Instagram: @roarattheocean
Part of Growing the NetWorks
This artist was selected by a past NetWorks Rhode Island participant as part of Growing the NetWorks — a 2025 exhibition presented by WaterFire Providence, at the WaterFire Arts Center, celebrating peer-nominated artists from across Rhode Island. Learn more at waterfire.org/growingthenetworks
Highlighting the work of selected artists who have played vital roles in shaping the contemporary visual arts community in Rhode Island. This collection of brief video portraits provides a window into the lives, practices, and cultural contributions of professional artists.
