The Heartbreak Monster was birthed in the wake of a massive break-up — a manifestation of the many feelings I was moving through as I detangled and reoriented myself in the aftermath of a long term relationship… I originally created this monster for the “Monster Parade” during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I embodied this being for several hours during the parade: it was heavy, burdensome, and uncomfortable. It felt vulnerable, yet healing — a way of both hiding and revealing parts of myself. At the end of my six weeks in New Orleans, I decided to burn this beautiful, but burdensome monster. The burn happened on the first day of spring, at sunset, on a sliver of land by the water. New friends were invited to feed the heartbreak monster. Written notes and objects from broken relationships were placed in the monster’s mouth. Then, it was released into the flames… Disintegrating and welcoming a new season.

The beautiful film photos were taken by the incredible Tammie Quintana. The companion monster in some of the photos is Amadeus the Spirit of Resurrection, created by creative kindred spirit, Henry Lipkis, who was key in making all of this possible. Be sure to check their work out, plus the rest of the monster crew in New Orleans: Emery, Basqo and Justine. I’m infinitely grateful the beautiful souls I met in New Orleans; thank you for welcoming a heartbroken goop like me with such warmth!

Acrylic Paint on Paper Mache, Fabric, Beads, Bells
2023

Made during a particularly cold and sad winter. The studio was filled with shades of blue. Little Blue, the center of the mask, was created as an experimental stop motion puppet.

Photo Credit: Derick Whitson

Fabric, Wire, Oil Pastels, Beads, Thread
2023

What are you holding onto? What are you letting go of?

Stills from Invitation to Monster performance at the Museum of Arts and Design with Jenny Hipscher. Photo Credit: Beatriz Meseguer

Fabric, Foam, Polyfil, Beads, Acyrlic Paint, Paper Mache
2022

Shadow Monster was created to externalize and explore shadow parts of myself using Carl Jung’s shadow archetypes. A way to sit with, move through and embody difficult feelings. This monster is a manifestation of griefs, fears and anxieties that were surfacing during an isolating winter, during the.heart of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Created in Shadow Tender workshop, lead by Natalya Kolosowsky. Video features soundscape by Kean Haunt.

Fabric, Paint, Foam, String, Threads
January 2021

“Invitation to Monster is a portal into an extrahuman space. Lexy Ho-Tai and Jenny Hipscher, will extend themselves through sculpture, movement, and sound to ask: What is monstrous in and around us? How can we play in the depths? When we welcome the scary, what is transformed? This performance will guide participants to the edges of body and collective. Loosen your human suits, all monsters welcome.

This intimate, one-and-a-half hour engagement begins with interactive monster making on the Museum's seventh floor before proceeding to the gallery for the performance.”

Images from an intimate performance at the Museum of Arts and Design as part of their Garmenting: Costumes as Contemporary Art Exhibition. Featured three of my monsters, created from 2016 - 2022. Invitation to Monster was co-created with the incredible Jenny Hipscher, with sounds by Bryce Hample and Matt Evans.

Photo Credit: Beatriz Meseguer

2022

Yarn, Fabric, Thread, Beads, Felt
2020

I’m not sure if there’s an exact definition but, to me, goopy is the messy, raw, real, unfiltered fleshy/ vulnerable/ meaty bits that’s underneath the human suit we all put on

I often see my work as alive and ongoing. I’ve been exploring the goopy human for several years. If you’re curious to learn more, here’s a blog post I wrote about this piece!

Fabric, Threads
2020-2023

Float, costumes and puppets created for the Wassaic Project’s socially distance Halloween parade. Exploring themes of rebirth, bodies, and interconnection.

Fabric, thread, polyfil, paper mache, beads, pipes, plastic bags, hair
2020

The original beings that started it all… The Kookers! I began making monsters during my fashion design degree, particularly when we had to create a 5 piece fashion collection for our senior thesis. Fed up with the fashion industry, I developed the world of the Kookers, made entirely out of found and recycled materials.

Kookerville is a fictitious world where your inner child goes to when it has been lost. This world is manifested in the form of creatures, called Kookers, that playfully roam the streets, unaware of the social constructs we have created… I was interested in how fashion could be an experience, rather than merely consumed.

See them more here!

Found and recycled materials, including fabrics, yarn, plastic bags, newspaper, hangers, beads, wire, felt
2015-2016