Holland Houdek

Holland Houdek’s work focuses on medical implants, the body, and embodied experience. Her current project—”Hyperbolic (Implants Series III)” —re-invents and exaggerates medical implants for imagined bodies. Her hand-fabricated objects glorify the highly individual and personal nature of prosthesis and surgeries, while evoking notions of memento mori and the fragile nature of the human form. The intention is for viewers to consider their own physicality and to visualize the absent anatomies implied by the work. Her metal objects are inspired by real medical devices procured through partnerships with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, MedWish, and Cleveland Clinic.

Holland has exhibited work in several international and national exhibitions and curated publications. She was recently recognized as a 2015 Presioza Young Finalist and a 2015 Niche Awards Finalist. Her work was awarded 1st Place in the juried “Handcrafted” exhibition at the Maria V. Howard Art Center in Rocky Mount, NC and 1st Place in the juried biennial “Refined VIII: Maker’s Choice” exhibition at the Reavley Gallery in the Cole Arts Center in Nacogdoches, TX. Holland was the Visiting Scholar & Artist-in-Residence at the University of Iowa for the 2014-2015 academic year. She earned her MFA in Jewelry & Metalsmithing from Syracuse University in 2012, and her BFA in Studio Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2009.