Artist Profile: Emily Byrtus (Chantel Wilson / The Clarion Call)

Emily Byrtus is a senior graduating this spring. She is earning a CFA in art with a dual concentration in graphic design and drawing, as well as three minors in history, art history and honors courses.

Byrtus’ series, titled “A Series of Tubes” after the quote from Senator Ted Stevens regarding the nature of the internet.

“I like to present things in a way they haven’t been presented before,” said Byrtus, “or in ways they’re not likely to be presented in.”

Her present series depicts the relationship between man and technology.

Byrtus sees herself as somewhat of a nerd, which would lend to the nature of the series, but she also wanted to present the nature of art in a non-gendered way, as opposed to the angular masculine portrayal common in art.

Byrtus sees technology as integral to society and chooses to represent it with wires and tubes, rather than those angles commonly used to represent technology.

The interpretation is totally up to the viewer.
“I enjoy the experience between the viewer and the piece,” said Byrtus.
“It’s a very unique relationship. It can’t be forced.”
Byrtus takes a lot of her ideas on art from the feminist movement.
“With the feminist movement, a lot of what they do deals with identity,” said Byrtus.
“A lot of my work deals with identity and how it’s formed, even in pieces not dealing with women.”
Regarding particular artists and their influences, she is a fan of Roy Lichtenstein and his comic-esque style of art, as well as comic book illustration.
She holds a particular interest in the work of Ben Templesmith, who has illustrated such works as “30 Days of Night,” “Wormwood” and “Criminal Macabre.”
“I like his use of lines,” Byrtus said.
While Byrtus said she does not try to imitate the comic book style, she admires it for its great composition and line work. “They don’t get the same respect as traditional illustration and drawing,” she said.
She enjoys Marcel Dzama for his minimalist use of color, as well as his use of ink and water color. She is also influenced by the work of Kothe Kollwicz, a German expressionist, drawer, printer, and sculptor, who Brytus admires for her gorgeous expressive lines and breathtaking depictions of human figure.
She also enjoys the work of Rodin and his relationship between figure and environment. Another favorite is the contemporary illustrator Aadi Salman, who worked on the Silent Hill Omnibus.
Amongst her favorite artists are the Russian Constructivists, Steward Davis, Pierre Dotreleau,and many abstract artists.
She said while abstract art isn’t her favorite to work in, it’s very interesting to view.
In the future, Byrtus plans on continuing to develop her art, as well as becoming involved in the video game industry by bringing more artistic ideas to industry.
“Video games are in a cool place right now,” said Byrtus. “It’s kind of like how cinema was when Citizen Kane came out.  There’s not much of an artistic point, but we’re slowly getting more and more.”
Byrtus hopes to push towards broadening the types of games that focus as much on artistry as they do on game play for the general public, as well as dealing with the depictions of people and situations, such as with women, minorities and the disabled.
Byrtus’ advice to those entering the art field is to learn to deal with criticism.
“You need to be able to give out and take it,” said Byrtus.
Byrtus said that in the art world, people will come out and say what they don’t like about the art, and it is the duty of the artist to figure out what they didn’t like, and how they can improve.
“My art has improved by 400,000 since I arrived here,” said Byrtus, “and it’s only getting better.”