We were lucky to catch up with Margaux Halloran recently and have shared our conversation below.

Margaux, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Growing up, I had never taken any art classes. I always knew I wanted to be part of the art community, but instead of painting, I was focused on fashion design. The summer entering my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to attend a summer pre-college art program in New York City. This changed my life. I met people that to this day remain my closest companions in New York. The second day of the program, I made the choice to switch from a fashion design class, into a drawing class. I was terrified. I had never experienced any sort of art class before. I had no idea what I was doing, but something inside me made that switch. I am not someone who was gifted with technical abilities— so in class, I began to experiment with abstraction, and I fell madly in love. At 17 years of age, I painted for the first time on the kitchen floor of the dorms I was living in. I had no idea what I was doing. I had no instruction. I had no training, but I felt something shift. I left New York at the end of July with this newfound energy within me. I was picturing abstracted forms. I could see color interacting in my head. I felt purpose, as if I had a duty to create.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Margaux Halloran. I was born in Florida, and have been living in New York the past few years while I attend Parsons School of Design. I identify as non-binary, although I am not very public about it in my every day life. My artistic approach is abstract. I started to teach myself how to paint at 17—it happened very naturally. I love oil painting, and the freedom and possibilities of colors. For me, colors are people—I make many abstract works that relate to the people in my life. MY mother was born in Denmark, and I find myself very drawn to her childhood. Sculpture is my other chosen medium. Th tangibility and tactility of the materials make me feel very grounded and stable. We go through life figuring ourselves out. There are many dark and sad moments that make it so important to find, and pursue what you love. Art has always been my first true love. It’s the most important relationship in my life, it’s a part of me. Art is essential to the world. It has created communities, and co-existed alongside history since the beginning.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Art has brought me my closest friends—the best people in my life. The people I have come across as a developing artist have helped build the person I am today.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn that there is one definition for success. Growing up with two future doctors as my siblings, and in a city that nurtured traditional thinking—success felt grounded by money, and partnership. I felt a pressure, and still often d0, to achieve this success in order for those around me to validate the path I chose. As an artist, there are no straight answers—I’ve learned to find peace within that. The ability to embrace change, individuality, and to be able to respect my own passions is what will lead me to peace and balance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.margauxhalloran.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margauxhalloran/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/landforbirds/

Image Credits
Maxwell Masterson + others