CARLEE BROUGHTON
Glass
Carlee Broughton is a multidisciplinary sculptor and “craftsthem” residing in Detroit MI. Born April 8, 1994 in Flint, MI, Carlee was born into a dysfunctional low income household with absent parents due to physical and mental illnesses. Their grandmother and eldest sister had a hand in raising Carlee and teaching them empathy, love, and patience. More importantly, they nurtured Carlee’s curiosity and creativity. They grew up to always follow their dreams. At age 10, Carlee moved from an inner city trailer park to a christian based summer camp in a rural Northern Michigan forest town, which was a huge adjustment. This was also around the time Carlee was first realizing they were queer. Carlee continued to push through new traumas, and used art, music, and theater as a form of escapism. After high school, Carlee studied fine art and psychology before finally being accepted into their dream school. Carlee graduated with their BFA in Crafts and Material Studies at College for Creative Studies (Detroit, MI) in 2022.
Being at CCS gave Carlee amazing opportunities, such as work study in the glass, ceramic, and wood shops, student exhibitions, and multiple awards/scholarships. Some notable shows were at Janice Charach Gallery for the 2019 Regional Glass Exhibition, the Herman Kiefer complex for “Since We Last Spoke” where Carlee showed their thesis Dont Fall In 2022. In 2021, Carlee was shortlisted in the Pfizer Design for Science competition for their piece Pure Hell. They also were given the opportunities to work with local glassblowers as well as travel to teach and lead glass and ceramics at summer programs, like Camp Chateaugay and Bucks Rock. Carlee is looking forward to this summer as Head of Glass at Bucks Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp in New Milford, CT.
carleebroughton@gmail.com
IG & tiktok: carlee_broughton
don’t fall in, 2022, mixed media.
don’t fall out of the tub, 2022, mixed media.
don’t fall until you brush your teeth, 2022, mixed media.
don’t fall in the trash, 2022, mixed media.
don’t fall into sin, 2022, mixed media.
don't fall in the potty, 2022, mixed media.
don’t fall in the sink,, 2022, mixed media.
I fell in, 2022, mixed media.
CARLEE BROUGHTON
I explore the autonomy of intimate everyday objects and the emotional utility of these objects. Growing up borderline deaf automatically made me more connected to the visual and physical world. As a queer neurodivergent artist living in a neurotypical, heteronormative, ableist world, I navigate through life with a disassociated lens, seeking comfort by reimaging everyday objects floating away from reality. The process of using various materials, textures, vivid colors, and lighting allows me to play and stim happily, and that energy exerts into my work. The ability to manipulate materials like glass, ceramics, and mixed media, allows me to craft and intervene in the meaning of everyday objects. This process allows me to apply autonomy, real life experiences, and even humor to these objects, in a way where it allows me to respond to and critique the traumatic experiences I've been inspired to create such works from. I seek to give the viewer a sense of playful escape in my figurative, sculptural, and installation-based work, yet acknowledging the current world and situations we live in.