By Kevin Murphy Wilson
Grateful For This Life: A Conversation With Artist Whitney Olsen
In recent years, Louisville artist Whitney Olsen (aka Bloom) has been busy traveling around the world, visiting and learning from new cultures while also making expansive murals and indulging her adjacent interests in surfing and yoga. We recently caught up with Olsen for a quick conversation around her exciting life and ever-evolving practice. From being one of Louisville's big main street artists to making an art impact around the world.
BEFORE WHITNEY OLSEN:
AFTER WHITNEY OSLEN:
What can you tell us about your background and experience?
“I was born in Aurora, Illinois and grew up in the suburbs outside of Chicago. I moved to Oldham County [Kentucky] in 2000, when I was nine years old. I stayed in Louisville through college and graduated from the University of Louisville in 2015 with a BFA in 3-D Studio Art with a focus in glass and sculpture. Afterwards, I focused on glassblowing and worked at numerous glass studios in town while assisting artists, attending craft school workshops, and doing everything in my power to be a working artist. Ultimately, I found a family building out the décor at music festivals with a company called Formation. This large-scale design is something I’ve always wanted to be a part of, and I envision more of it for my future.”
What put you on the creative path in the first place?
“I come from a very creative family. I grew up knitting and sewing with my Grandma Joy and was singing show tunes with my Grandma Brookie as early as I can remember. My grandma Brookie was the director of the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney and she was a huge proponent of creativity for me and my siblings. Both of my grandpas made furniture. My mom was Miss Nebraska and starred in a number of shows and commercials and even had a handmade jewelry company at one point. My dad is award-winning at designing conveyor belts, but can basically do anything. I think creativity just runs in my genes.”
Are there any specific artists who inspired you or that you wanted to emulate along the way?
“I have always been hugely inspired by the process of old school graffiti and the artists that risk a lot to get their name up. Not everyone can do those things just to share their art. I have really admired the artist Swoon, who showed me that women are just as powerful in the streets as they are creating big badass installations in galleries. Her wheat pastes and general style has pushed me to test my own limits. I love the work of Olafur Eliasson and Pantone, the scope of their work is limitless and I’m always blown away.”
How would you describe your art to the uninitiated?
“My work combines some version of real with fantastical, usually. I like to collage reality with the imagined whenever I have the chance. Either blending painting with collage or light with glass or tangible with the intangible in some form. In other words, it’s a constant struggle to figure it out. I’m never satisfied. I’m a ‘more’ person and I’m trying to be a ‘less’ person, which is why I’ve been living out of a suitcase for almost two years. When you let go of all the pressures society has created you realize there is unlimited potential within and that our lives are open for the taking.”
What is special to you about the process of creation?
“I’m grateful to find comfort and a sort of therapy in creating, but I think it’s the notion that there is unlimited potential in the process which really makes every start of something special. If my studio space is immaculate then there are problems, if it looks like a rats’ nest then I’m on to something. The process — once you get past the doubts and hesitation and actually start — is a beautiful journey, a way to figure out something new. Even if it’s a new technique or working with a new material or it’s a new way to translate a concept through imagery or possibly just a way to really understand and work through a subject, it’s really satisfying, and can you believe it, it’s play. The more you play and forget about everything else, the faster you will find success in your work. Now, whether it resonates with the public matters only if you want it to. If you make something YOU are proud of, that’s success.”
Can you share any details about what you are up to at the moment?
“At the very moment I’ve been diligently working on some paintings for Dreamsea Sonica Festival in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. These are murals that liven the camp for the festival goers. I’ve been introducing tons of color and even more lush imagery into the camp, even though it’s nestled in the middle of the jungle.”
Looking back, what are you most proud of thus far?
“I’m incredibly proud of following my gut and persevering through the unknown. It has shaped the woman I am today.”
For more information about the artist visit: www.whitneyolsen.com.
MORE ART WORK BY WHITNEY OLSEN
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