about

my story

my artist statement

Kenny Porter is a sculptor and mixed‑media artist based in Lumberton, North Carolina. He creates small sculptures, dioramas, and charcoal drawings that explore themes of horror, decay, abandonment, mental health, and personal identity. His work draws inspiration from childhood memories, nightmares, and the pressures of daily life, as well as 1980s horror films, practical‑effects techniques, and the disappearing houses and barns of rural North Carolina. Porter builds figures and environments using foam, clay, wood, and found objects, emphasizing texture, lighting, and atmospheric detail to heighten the unsettling mood of his work. One of his sculptures was selected for inclusion in the 2026–2027 UNC Pembroke Studio Art program brochure, and two of his artworks will be featured in the upcoming issue of The Aurochs, the university’s student literary magazine. He continues to develop his skills and seeks opportunities to share his artwork with wider audiences

I focus on creating small sculptures, dioramas, and charcoal drawings. My work centers on themes of horror, decay, abandonment, mental health, and personal identity. Much of my inspiration comes from childhood memories, nightmares, and the pressures of daily life. My imagery is strongly influenced by 80s horror, practical effects, and the disappearing houses and barns I grew up around.

My creative process often shifts, and those changes help me develop deeper, more detailed narratives in my work. I build figures and environments that show the strain of time and transformation, using foam, clay, wood, and found objects. Texture plays a major role in my work because it creates surfaces that feel weathered and supports my themes of decay and abandonment. I use intense, selective lighting to highlight specific details while letting other areas fall into deep shadow, creating an atmosphere that pushes each piece toward its most unsettling state.

I’ve also begun incorporating glow‑in‑the‑dark paint into some of my artwork, allowing the work to transform in darkness and reveal another, more eerie version of itself. I put pieces of my own history and connection to the past into nearly everything I create, and I aim to continue developing my skills and finding opportunities to share my work.