Jennifer Crupi combines artistic practice with the craft of metalworking, creating sculptural tableaux that embody a synthesis of these two disciplines. Drawing on her extensive expertise in metal fabrication, she assembles and shapes aluminum and silver into works that explore the relationship between the body and gesture. Central to her research is the study of human movement and nonverbal communication, elements that the artist translates into her creations.
At a time when communication is increasingly dominated by written and spoken language, amplified by digital technologies, Crupi redirects attention to the physical and immediate dimension of human interaction. Through an analysis of posture and gesture—not only from the perspective of movement but also from emotional and psychological viewpoints—she creates metal structures that reproduce bodily actions associated with support, comfort, openness, and responsiveness to others.
In the Unguarded Gestures series, the artist crafts prosthetic devices that encourage wearers to adopt open and assertive postures. Unguarded Gestures #2, in particular, facilitates the hands-on-hips position, a stance that can convey receptiveness and openness, as it leaves much of the torso unobstructed and oriented toward the interlocutor. Described by the artist herself as “tools for contact,” these devices emphasize the concept of connection. According to certain psychological studies, deliberately assuming specific postures can foster the emergence of emotions typically associated with those gestures when they occur naturally and spontaneously.
Crupi’s work thus functions first and foremost as an experiment in human behavior, while simultaneously becoming a visual and artistic device. When not worn, the prostheses are displayed on frosted acrylic supports that serve as backgrounds for the works, transforming them into true sculptural wall pieces. Outlined on these supports are body silhouettes illustrating the posture to be assumed while wearing the devices. The colors chosen for the backgrounds are warm and enveloping, in harmony with the emotions and sensations the works are intended to evoke.
Ultimately, the exhibition dimension of Crupi’s creations invites viewers to reflect on the power of gesture and on the ability of nonverbal communication to convey profound meanings, often more immediate and effective than words themselves.

Jennifer Crupi ,Unguarded Gestures #2, 2006
aluminum, painted-wood acrylic, 24″ x 24″ x 12″
Photo: Jennifer Crupi

Jennifer Crupi ,Unguarded Gestures #2 (shown worn), 2006
aluminum, painted-wood acrylic, 24″ x 24″ x 12″
Photo: Christian Luis

20/02/26