Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Phillips.
Stacy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been a maker but my path was definitely not linear. I owned and operated the Flat Rabbit Gallery in Park City, Utah after a short stint in advertising. I got my bachelor’s degree in art while studying business and graphic design simultaneously. Those were the days when it was recommended to “have something to fall back on ” when you were studying art. In hindsight, studying business in conjunction with any field of study is not a bad idea. Whether we like it or not, business practice is a part of any vocation that we choose. That said, I was not thinking of my art as a vocation, it was just something I had to do, something I was deeply curious about, so I followed that path. My formal education after receiving my BFA and selling my gallery was to pursue ceramics and jewelry. I was super hungry to get back to being a maker after running the gallery and managing six employees for nine years. I sold the gallery because I did not want to be 65 years old and just now allowing myself to make art. Not that that is a bad path, it just was not mine. I dove into classes at the University of Utah in ceramics, classes in NYC in jewelry making, and any workshop that I felt would add to my education at Anderson Ranch Art Center. Looking back, I realize that I created my own program by following my thread of interest, a path that has served me well. My friends and colleagues will tell you that I am a freak for materials. That passion for materials, unknowingly at the time, gave me an education in materials that has allowed me to share my knowledge as a Working Artist for Golden Paints and as a Coach for the Art2Life, Creative Visionary Program with Nicholas Wilton. Both of these opportunities have enriched my full-time art practice in ways that I could never have imagined.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
A smooth road? Absolutely not. A fantastic, crazy, unpredictable journey that I would not trade for the world? For sure! The struggles are part of the path. Of course, I am able to say this now with 20/20 hindsight. In seriousness, the struggles that I have experienced in my life, my art practice, are part of the juice that has made my journey so rich. Choosing to be a full-time self-employed artist is a leap of faith. You have to really believe in yourself, in your vision, and to recommit to that vison continuously, especially when things get tough. The tough moments, struggles, can vary, it may be finances, self-doubt, lack of clarity, lack of emotional support, or health issues. I am sure that the audience of creatives reading this can add to this list! In my life, I have been blessed with a family and friends that have stuck with me along the way, pushed me when I needed pushing, held me when I needed holding, given me tough love along with unconditional love, that I am forever grateful for.
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 would like to begin this response with what I am most proud of. (I love these questions because they create a space to really think and be reflective.) I am most proud of the fact that after thirty years I am still following my dream of supporting myself by being a maker and they have not turned the lights off on me once! This I hold dear. My work is ever-changing, yet it holds the consistent thread that I am the maker. I am always hungry to lean and challenge myself in my work. I spent many years as a sculpture working in ceramics, wood, beads. I have a background in jewelry so again with hindsight I can see many more connections in my work that I may not have been aware of at the time. In the late ’90s, I started to create a body of work that consisted of ceramic sculptures, wood, beads, feathers, found object, etc that I have had wonderful success with. I loved the endless possibilities of this body of work and was very fortunate to have the CODA Gallery represent me and this work in NYC, Park City, UT, and Palm Desert, CA. This gave me a venue to show and sell this work along with so many rich experiences that come with meeting clients, creating commissions, and travel. It was a blast! I still create these pieces, now in bronze and ceramic, and show them at Trove Gallery in Park City and CODA gallery in Palm Desert.
Sculpture is a wonderful medium but it can be physically taxing and can be very expensive when working with these materials. I always had a love for drawing and painting but had not pursued these mediums while I was creating sculpture. One thing leads to another and I started to dive back into my learning curve with painting and drawing. I feel like I am in the middle of a deep exploration in this medium that will consume my curiosity for the rest of my life. Painting is hard! LOL But I love the chase!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am actually an introvert in an extrovert’s body.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://stacyphillipsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacyphillipsart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacyphillipsart/
Image Credits
Lori Adamski-Peek
