Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leesa Fregin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Leesa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Independent Creatives Art Collective all started with a spark of an idea. Discussed over a glass of wine, of course. Little did my co-founder and I know, in less than a year’s time, our mission to connect creatives to collectors would become a reality. Even now, experienced with sought-after art shows and multiple rotating exhibit locations at play, we couldn’t be more excited for the future. It’s only the beginning. And it is a beautiful thing to witness our artist members, clients, supporting vendors and venues hold that same perspective and excitement.

In the industry, I have experienced an open-arms acceptance of collaborative efforts, in nearly any way, shape and form. I believe this trend has positively contributed to experimentation with novel concepts and the birth of unique partnerships. The artist members of the Independent Creatives Art Collective all work towards a common goal to be seen, authentically seen, while enriching people’s lives with both their artwork and a sense of community. Not only are artists collaborating with fellow artists, but Independent Creatives’ relationship with local restaurants, tap rooms and wine bars have allowed us to enrich daily life in a casual yet impactful way.

Intentionality when approaching our purpose is important to me, it is an honor to be depended on by creatives in the community to continue to grow the platform and maximize unique opportunities. The curation of each art show and rotating exhibition reflects a calculated yet passionate approach. Providing local artists with a platform means the world to me, especially since I seldom had opportunities for exposure until we created them ourselves. Seeing artists consistently sell their work at our art shows and gain recognition from the rotating exhibitions makes all of the behind-the-scenes efforts worth it.

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.

My career in the field of architecture and interior design feeds into my love for the curatorial process alongside making an impact in people’s lives. Whether it is as small as the addition of a single piece of art or as big as a ground-up construction project, I don’t underestimate its importance. In recent years, I have found myself intertwining the design process into as many aspects of my life that I can. Full-time, I see design and construction projects through from inception to completion. After hours, I am pouring my heart into my canvases and vetting opportunities that are of value to the Independent Creatives Art Collection. I am most proud of the intention behind all that I do.

My involvement in the art world extends back as far as I can remember, from painting as a small child to curating museum and art gallery exhibitions in my professional career. I will always hold a love for art, whether I be creating, curating or simply appreciating it. I make a point to enjoy the work of artists in any given community when traveling, whether the artwork may be found in museums, galleries or a simple street market on the weekend. Locally, I consistently seek the same, although it is more so through a business-minded lens.

Without a doubt I hold an appreciation for all kinds of art, although in terms of creating art myself, I have always been drawn to the abstract. The shapes and figures in my paintings are often inspired by unique perspectives of form and function. I use observations in daily life and my imagination as my muse.

At this time, the best way to keep up with my artistic endeavors is to follow @LinesbyLees on Instagram.

Follow @independent_creatives_ for art show updates and check out independentcreatives.net if you’d like to know more about the collective.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It is challenging to choose the singular most rewarding aspect of being a creative. As an artist, there is no better feeling than dedicating time and energy to a creative outlet that you are passionate about. While it can be frustrating at times, it can also be therapeutic. You know, when ‘work’ doesn’t exactly feel like work. Those are the best moments. I sincerely hope that everyone reading this has experienced that feeling before or finds it at some point in the future. Another rewarding aspect is witnessing the satisfaction or joy of a client as a result of your hard work. It’s a raving review once a design-build project has reached completion. It’s someone telling you that you’ve helped bring their vision to life. It’s overhearing a compliment of your technique, or noticing positive facial expressions as onlookers observe your art. Knowing that you made a positive difference in someone else’s day, big or small, makes the unseen work well worth it.

For design-build networking or art inquiries, please email [email protected]

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

My co-founder, Kortney Jones, and I go back as far as we can both recall. As cliché as that sounds. We share family ties, and funny enough, we collaborated in multiple industries years before Independent Creatives was a blossoming concept. We have always shared a tenacious drive, a passion for community-building events, and a love for the arts. We both bring different strengths and networks to the table. Our business partnership to establish the Independent Creatives Art Collective has made perfect sense and we look forward to what the future holds.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://independentcreatives.net
• Instagram: @independent_creatives_ and @LinesbyLees
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesa-fregin/
• Other: Personal email: [email protected]