The Herd by Carla Tilotta

The Herd
Carla Tilotta
Charcoal on paper
22"h x 54"w - framed 
2025

The subjects are elk. Having lived in Idaho, I frequently encountered wildlife and often visited the elk refuge in Jackson Hole during the winter. This piece is an ode to that wildlife; I wanted the spectator to feel as though they are part of the herd.


Get to Know the Artist:
I am a multidisciplinary artist who works in both traditional arts such as drawing, painting and sculpture; as well as conceptual art. My artwork explores an ironic language that seeks to provocatively and satirically reflect the social and cultural roles of a contemporary consumer society; the use of the photographic and digital registry is part of the creative process, thus recreating new themes that manage to show the beautiful and the grotesque of humanity.

The use and exploration of new materials, whether organic or inorganic, is vital for the development of my work; in each of my artworks I strive to show a connection between matter and concept.

Lately, the themes I explore are related to the ideals and aspirations built around the concept of the nuclear family of the mid-20th century. One of the pieces that I have designed/created is based on the games and toys that come in pieces to break down and assemble, such as those used in scale modeling. This ‘perfect family’ model is made up of elements (money, jewelry, cars, travel, etc.) that symbolize and project the search for well-being and luxury, as well as social advancement and improvement of status through the assimilation of traditional social values and the acquisition of high-value products.