CJ Ozee

Bio

My work begins with steel and the processes used to shape it. Through cutting,
welding, and hydroforming, I push rigid material into fluid form, working between control
and unpredictability. Each piece is carefully constructed, yet never fully predetermined.
The material leaves its own record.

The ampersand serves as both form and concept. As a symbol meaning “and,” it connects
separate elements while allowing them to remain distinct. I am drawn to its ability to hold
contradiction and continuity at the same time, offering a way to think about identity as
something multiple and shifting rather than fixed.

These works present the ampersand as a singular object, emphasizing its physical
presence, surface, and form. Through repetition and variation across the series, each piece
exists as both an individual and part of a larger language of making.

I use steel because it resists easy control, and the ampersand because it remains open.
Together they allow me to explore identity, material, and process.