
Artist Statement
Chad Robert Collofello
My work investigates the connections between humanity and the natural world, focusing on unity and viewer participation to question our role in the human ecology. Grounded in personal experience, I draw from relationships, loss, and discovery to create immersive, sometimes multi-sensory productions that challenge perception and invite reflection.
My journey of reconnection began with a reunion with my mother, brother, and grandparents after years of separation, which sparked lifelong questions about belonging. A second turning point occurred when I experienced a rapid loss of hearing. As my daughter studied birds, her passion reignited my interest in their calls, which I had once lost amidst urban noise. My eventual use of hearing aids helped me rediscover birdsong, transforming my understanding of sensory perception and ecological responsibility and catalyzing my artistic inquiry.
I work across multiple media, including painting, sculpture, and interactive sound, to create layered experiences that engage audiences. Throughout my exhibitions, I use found objects and adaptive lighting to emphasize interconnectedness.
Sustainability and environmental awareness are central to my practice. By repurposing materials and exploring contrasts between artificial and organic forms, I raise questions about memory, relationships, and our role in human ecology. My work encourages viewers to pause and reconsider their surroundings, inviting them to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the ecosystem. I believe that through art and curiosity, transformation is possible.
