We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Allis Chang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Allis below.

Allis, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My most meaningful project is called “Come Together” is a photography set that explores human connection. Though it is still unreleased, it was born from a desire to explore the multiple dynamics of connection visually. There are cycles of connection and disconnection that I’ve observed and studied in relationship dynamics, across friendships, romantic relationships, colleagues, & beyond that I wanted to translate into visual format, and two of my favorite collaborators (Byron Scott Adams and Kolby Keene) helped me bring these visuals to life. Photographing this project in the Los Angeles springtime, with so much freedom to create and laugh with each other was truly a gift of a lifetime that I will never forget. I’m hoping to release a book with all the images sometime soon.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a nonbinary Taiwanese-American multidisciplinary artist based in Portland, Oregon.

My work explores the beauty of impermanence, longing, and human relationships. I utilize natural materials to echo the ever-present connection between nature and humanity. I feel it’s really important to balance both the authentic expressions of both the people and nature in my work. I think we have become really disconnected as a society and I feel like I’m always trying to figure out ways to express a desire to get back in touch with one another.

I have always been drawn to art that really makes me feel something, and so that is the kind of work I want to offer and be of service to. As I’ve evolved over many years, I feel like all of my artistic interests from cosplay to drawing to photography to film have really merged into something that is inherently unique.

I offer a lot of different services; I primarily work in graphic design but prefer photography and film work (directing/art direction). I would really like to work with intentional artists who have something to say and who have a strong desire to express their gifts through visual metaphors.

In terms of problem solving, I really love working through uncovering what is meaningful to a client. As a visual storyteller of many creative mediums, my goal is to thoughtfully express the authentic and dynamic nature of their vision. It’s important to me that the client feels like they are seen and heard through what we create together.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Following your instincts and having the ability to give life to your ideas is the most rewarding thing. There is nothing more magical than bringing an idea that is inherently intangible and personal into the physical space where others can see it and experience it. I feel like that and the actual process of the creation itself are really the great pleasures of life as an artist. Allowing yourself to experiment and create the things you want to see is really a gift.

If you are a true artist, you are able to create something out of nothing. You are here to share your gifts. Not everyone follows that calling, even if they possess the ability. I think it’s important to answer the call.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think most people won’t be able to fully understand the struggles of my journey — or anyone’s for that matter — we all have our hardships and challenges that shape us and help us ultimately become who we are (which hopefully makes the art more profound or rewarding). What I will say is that my biggest challenge has been creating all my work thus far without being able to drive. I don’t drive and I don’t have a car and so I’ve had a lot of challenges figuring out how to create and accomplish my ideas on a small scale/budget while also being resourceful.

I didn’t let the inability to drive stop me from exploring what I wanted to do –specifically in film and photography. I realized that I had to find somewhere that had everything I needed to create to be accessible for me (and ideally in walking distance), so instead of staying in Philadelphia (where it was extremely difficult to find the right people & resources to create), I would fly to LA where everything I needed was within a 15 minute walking distance from each other. The fabric district, flower market and studio I shoot at are all in the same area, so it made it accessible for me to have the resources I needed to create. It was still so much work. I can’t tell you the amount of times I did load ins by walking or how many flower buckets I hauled up steps exhausted because I didn’t have help. The important thing is I know how much of a struggle it’s been to just get the materials into the studio, let alone take a photograph.

Never let limitations define what you can do. Find the places that are resourceful and nourishing to your work. There is always a way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alliswonder.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titwillo/

Image Credits
models featured: Neo Nguyen (@neonguyen), Byron Scott Adams (@byronscottadams), Kolby Keene (@kolbykeene), Jenny (@champagnehitachi), Emily (@emetvarda), Brian (@koredoko)