THESE CRYIN’ EYES
Polyplastic denture wax, artificial eyeballs, repurposed blue Swarovski crystals, repurposed grandmother’s surgical steel jewelry hooks and loops
Io Kuriviál’s mixed-media practice is a reflection of the shifting, fluid nature of gender and identity, where masculine and feminine energies intertwine, dissolve, and reemerge in ever-changing forms. As a nomadic queer artist, Io’s search for home—both physically and within themselves—has shaped a body of work that embraces movement, impermanence, and transformation. Through wearable art, jewelry, and tactile compositions, they create pieces that flow with the body, embodying the restless pursuit of self-understanding. Eyes and teeth emerge as persistent symbols, representing perception, consumption, and desire—shared human experiences that transcend identity yet remain deeply individual.
Io’s journey has been one of constant movement, having traveled across the U.S. in search of belonging. Nine months ago, they arrived in Rome with the intention of planting roots in a new place—one that allows them to weave their ever-evolving identity and creativity into a new environment and landscape.