BFAH Thesis Project | Specialization in Sculpture & Installation

Blossoming Beyond the Box is a life-sized, immersive installation that served as the cornerstone of Portia Po Chapman’s BFAH thesis. This pivotal work was the primary reason Portia was honoured with the Queen’s University Medal in Visual Art (2019)—an institutional recognition awarded to the top overall graduate in the program.

About Portia Po Chapman

Hi, I am Po, a professional emerging artist in Kingston, Ontario. I am primarily known for my painted art works like murals and drums, but did you know that I started out as a Sculpture / Installation artist at Queen’s University (BFAH 2019)? My 3D life sized installations contributed to me being awarded the Queen’s Medal in Visual Art for being the top overall BFAH graduate in 2019. “Blossoming Beyond the Box,” took me 4 months to create, working 7 days per week. To construct the installation, I was not permitted to have an assistant to help lift and hold things, so I had to figure out how to build it in small segments. My Honour’s Mentor nicknamed me: “The MacGyvering Porsh!” On this page, I’d like to share with you some construction scenes from the studio.