This month’s featured creator is Esther Moorehead. She is a painter and a muralist.
How would you describe your work?
Where there’s life, there’s hope. That is the pulse of my work. I approach making art with one simple but powerful purpose – to emphasize the significance of human connection and interaction. I search for metaphors and symbols in common subjects like streets, crosswalks, wayfinding markers and anonymous figures in motion to create contemporary urban landscapes. I love to capitalize on the subtle interplay of positive and negative space, light and shadow, to bring unexpected wonder to otherwise overlooked encounters.
Which other artists most inspired you?
I have found Piet Mondrian, Mark Rothko, John Singer Sargent and Lawren Harris to all be great sources of inspiration.
Where do you find your best sources for inspiration?
I draw creative influence from figures and forms depicted in art from ancient civilizations; from pattern, order and ubiquitous beauty in nature; and especially from the constant ebb and flow of people in urban centers. I love to travel to observe the diversity of people groups and gain insight into the relativity of human perspectives on what is mundane versus spectacular.
What is the greatest compliment you’ve received about your work?
My heart is most happy when collectors and admirers tell me they feel like they can place themselves in my work, as if they could walk alongside the figures and participate in the joy of our collaborative physical and spiritual journeys.
What are you working on now that you are excited about?
I am working on several large mural projects and proposals in Charlotte that I am very excited to dive into. I love scaling my work up to a fully immersive experience!
What is one piece of creative advice you wish you had learned sooner?
“Don’t doubt your ability.” I spent many years thinking I wasn’t qualified enough or my work would never be considered good enough to make it into a full time career. Now that I have taken the leap of faith into being an “Artist-with-a-capital-A”(!), I’m trying my best to use my time effectively to forge a future for my career that isn’t affected by the loss of those years where I was too afraid.
Where can our readers learn more about you and see some more examples of your work?
Here’s a list of places my work can be viewed and/or purchased:
Online:
Website esthermoorehead.com
Instagram @esthermooreheadart
Physical Gallery Affiliates:
Juelerye Artisan Gallery in Mooresville, NC juelerye.com
Spoonbill Gallery in Greenville, SC spoonbillgallery.com/pages/artists
Candita Clayton Gallery with locations in NYC, Rhode Island and New Hampshire canditaclaytongallery.com
Public Art:
Mural in “Luminous Lane” in uptown Charlotte, NC artwalksclt.com/luminous-lane
My studio is located in Charlotte and open by appointment. My email address is esther.moorehead@gmail.com
