CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART GRADUATE DREGREE EXHIBITION 2025  
GRADUATES \\ WORK \\ ABOUT \\
MARIO
CUELLAR

DEPARTMENT
SCULPTURE

My practice explores the complexities of human memory and the enduring power of objects to hold the weight of the past.

I explore this theme through the interplay of found materials, each imbued with its own history and narrative potential. From the rust of meteorites and coffin nails to the delicate fragility of a wasp nest, these materials become active participants in the creation process, inviting chance and unexpected outcomes.

I am drawn to the ways in which objects hold traces of loss, absence, and the passage of time. Through the interplay of textures, colors, and juxtapositions, I aim to evoke a sense of haunting presence, prompting viewers to contemplate the enduring power of memory and the fragility of human experience.

My work, in its quiet contemplation of forgotten histories and the enduring impact of objects, seeks to spark dialogue about our relationship to the material world, the weight of the past, and the ways in which we construct our identities through the objects we collect and cherish. I hope to create a space for reflection and introspection, inviting viewers to reconsider the stories embedded within seemingly ordinary objects and the profound impact these objects can have on our lives.




Uterus
Wasp nest , latex , cheese cloth
You cannot heal if you dance alone
Lead, latex , rust made from meteorite, rust made from coffin nails , wasp nest, fermented persimmon juice, pomegranate
Necropoiesis 
Rifle barrel, Stim-u-Lax massager, desk bells, used golf balls, timer