Ep 74: Navigating Grief through Sculpture: Bobbi Meier’s Story

“Grief doesn’t have to be gray. It can be neon, it can be soft, it can be joyful.”- Bobbi Meier

Summary of the episode

In this episode of noseyAF, we explore navigating grief through sculpture with Chicago-based artist Bobbi Meier. Bobbi’s journey as an artist is intimately shaped by personal loss and the emotional complexities of caregiving, grief, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Through her tactile, vibrant sculptures—which she calls “squishy, colorful towers”—Bobbi channels emotion, joy, and memory. These works, part of a series titled Sentinels for Innocence, reflect how grief and play can coexist in powerful ways.

We discuss how Bobbi’s sculptural practice creates space for healing, community, and catharsis, and how her art invites both personal introspection and public dialogue. From the transformation of grief into vibrant form to the role of humor in tragedy, this conversation reveals the power of creative expression to shape identity and connect us to one another.

Topics discussed:

• How personal loss and caregiving shaped Bobbi Meier’s art
• The role of play and innocence in sculpture
• Art as a response to grief and social-political upheaval
• Balancing humor and tragedy in creative practice
• Professionalism, hobby culture, and rediscovering joy in artmaking

Chapters:

• 00:07 - Kicking Off Season Six

• 06:20 - Exploring the Impact of the Pandemic on Artistic Expression

• 18:21 - The Emotional Journey of Art: From Creation to Reflection

• 22:42 - Art and Memory: Conversations on Impactful Pieces

• 30:00 - The Power of Art and Personal Loss

• 39:31 - Defining Professionalism in Art

• 44:10 - The Art of Hobbies: Discovering New Passions

• 48:23 - Reflections on Fear and ArtAbout Bobbi:

Bobbi Meier is a Chicago-based multimedia artist whose provocative, fiber-based sculptures confront the tension between what’s seen and what’s suppressed. Blurring the lines between public and private, her abstract forms tap into themes of repressed sexuality, proper manners, and emotional excess. With an MFA and MAAE from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bobbi’s work has been featured nationally and was recognized with a prestigious Kohler Arts/Industry residency in 2019.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• A Tale of Today: Materialities at Driehaus Museum
• JohnMichael Kohler Arts Center
• Epiphany Center for the Arts

Connect with Bobbi Meier

Instagram: @bobbimeierart

Website: bobbimeierart.com

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Episode Credits:

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam