Sandra Ono’s sculptural practice transforms everyday materials—such as cotton swabs, earplugs, and plastic bags—into organic, biomorphic forms that evoke the human body. Drawing from biology and physiology, she reconstructs these utilitarian objects to explore how we process internal states and corporeal experiences. Her work often reflects on the consequences of consumption and the materials that both sustain and consume us. In recent work, Ono has explored personal history, particularly the legacy of her namesake, Sandra Neely Smith, a victim of the 1979 Greensboro Massacre. This has led her to incorporate materials like denim, symbolizing activism and connections to labor history. Ono’s process involves repetitive gestures, building forms cell by cell, creating pieces that are both tactile and conceptually layered. Her art engages with themes of memory, identity, and the body, inviting viewers to consider the relationships between material culture, history, and lived experience. Through meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful material choices, Ono creates work that is both intimate and politically resonant. ...
