Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Lauren.
Hi Jillian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At a young age, I was fortunate enough to be exposed to art, music, and history. Through this exposure, I quickly learned about my love for art and desire to create. Early on, my mom recognized this interest and ability to draw what I saw with a decent amount of accuracy and soon began to encourage my growth in the area. Not long after the discovery, I participated in the Lite-Brite Illuminartist contest hosted by Hasbro. I was one of five finalists chosen in the country to compete in New York City, displaying an original piece of artwork using the new toy at the time, Lite Brite Peg Board. While I didn’t win, at only eight years old, I knew that art was my passion, purpose, and path that I wanted to pursue. Then life happened! I went to school, took high school art classes, began my college career, and took a hiatus from art to pursue a different career. However, in late 2018, I was presented with the opportunity to display with Conception Gallery and quickly fell back in love and line with my true passion. Since then, I have worked on defining my brand and style as an artist, growing my reach, and ultimately expanding in different markets. This brings us to today! I have had multiple solos, feature artist exhibits, art hanging in stores for sale and display, interviewed by more than one publication, and met some wonderful people I would not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like the creation of a piece, finding my way as an artist has been an unpaved road; some parts are smooth and familiar, while others are riddled with potholes and many (learning) curves. Gallery etiquette, learning how to merchandise, pricing, and even something as simple as how to properly wire the back of a canvas were new concepts to me. Trying to meet people and network was more complex than my background in sales, but the basics of art presentation were not my strong suit. Luckily through collaboratives, lots of googling, and reaching out to other artists, I followed on Instagram. I found some of the information I needed to help make my work read as professionally as it required to obtain the types of jobs and exposure I hoped for the pieces. As a result, to help to emerge and novice artists learn the ‘Gallery 101s’ so that their transition from school to fairs and galleries is easier than mine! It is my goal.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a two-dimensional artist with a focus on feminine portraiture. Standing firmly in the tradition of the contemporary artist before me, my Warhol-equine portraits of pop culture icons and candid individuals glitter as my subjects. Each portrait is produced with acrylic paint, pearlized mediums, and a layering technique to create three-dimensional effects and manifest a unique experience based on the viewer’s position. My idea is to create a multi-faceted, collaborative experience with the viewer to create a universal definition of beauty. Through the color shifting and shine, I forge a veil for my subjects, asking viewers to pull back the curtain and understand the subject in their ways, thus replicating the parasocial relationship of celebrity, beauty, and public perception.
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
If you are interested in working with me, collaborating, purchasing a piece of artwork, or commissioning a portrait specific to you, please email me at jillian@jillianlaurenart.com or message me through my instagram @JillianLauren.Art.
Contact Info:
- Website: jillianlaurenart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/@JillianLauren.Art
Image Credits
Jillian Lauren Art
