builder Of Imagined wOrlds
Adam Izen is an artist working in sculpture, puppetry, performance, and object-making.
Each day as the sun sets, Izen passes behind the curtain, into a world of fantasy and opulence where imagination is the most elusive luxury of all.
Here, he builds characters, objects, and stories that belong to another reality -- one that can be felt but remains just beyond reach. Through puppets, masks, relics and other objects of magical provenance, he invites his audience to remember, to imagine, to dream.
Origins
Adam Izen was born in the late twentieth century to a military family, spending his childhood moving from one place to the next. The constant relocation shaped an early sense of distance from the familiar—and fostered a deep reliance on imagination as a means of connection.
In the absence of lasting surroundings, Izen began building his own companions and worlds from whatever materials were available. Clay figures, puppets, costumes, and found objects became both creative outlet and refuge—early experiments in character, narrative, and form that would later define his practice.
He went on to study theater at Emerson College, focusing on directing and costume design, where he developed a lasting fascination with performance, transformation, and the expressive power of craft. These foundations continue to inform a body of work that moves fluidly between sculpture, wearable forms, and performative objects.
Izen’s artistic language has been described as a kind of haute couture fairy tale—a balance of whimsy and gravity, ornament and intention. Working against the speed and disposability of contemporary culture, he remains deeply committed to the handmade, often repurposing traditional materials and techniques to create objects that feel timeless, tactile, and alive.
Now based in the Hudson Valley, Izen’s work appears in galleries, performances, and workshops, where his creatures and constructions quietly enter shared space—inviting viewers and participants alike to step into imagined worlds built not for escape, but for connection.
