Courtney Boatwright

Artist Statement

My artistic journey has its roots in the unconventional chaos of my upbringing as a latchkey kid and the eldest sibling in a family that could easily be mistaken for the Addams Family. Growing up in the Bay Area with parents who were always working, I found myself juggling responsibilities while navigating the quirks of my tight-knit clan. We were the kind of family that made the neighbors whisper—there was something almost supernatural about our bond.

Being the eldest granted me a strange freedom, letting me dive into gothic fantasies and spin bizarre, captivating tales. From this mix of reality and imagination, the Oneirics emerged—a twisted world woven from my illustrations, sculptures, poems and stories, all reflections of my journey through life’s weirdness.

The Oneirics aren’t just characters; they’re fragments of human emotion, embodied in two volatile children who are as haunting as they are relatable. For over a decade, I’ve been nurturing these characters, letting them evolve in narratives that are both whimsical and dark, filled with lessons that cut deep. Some of these stories might make you uncomfortable, but that’s the point—they’re meant to linger in your mind, leaving you to wrestle with their meanings.

In crafting the Oneirics, I lean into various mediums. I start with raw sketches, then move to inking and digital refinement. Along the way, poems and twisted tales emerge, unplanned but perfectly in sync with the visuals. The characters then take their final form as sculptures, becoming tangible, three-dimensional beings that demand attention.

As an avid collector of designer toys and an aspiring creator, I’m inspired by the energy and joy that three-dimensional art brings. My space is filled with these creations, each one a reminder of the magic art can hold. I hope fellow collectors will one day feel the same dark, twisted joy when they encounter my work—impossible to resist.