We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adam Collier Noel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Adam Collier, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Finding a career as an artist and creative person can seem like a daunting task, however, there can be many opportunities to forge one’s own path to success. The key is to stay engaged in the arts, network with the people in this community, and engage with creatives who are committed to honing their craft.

The creative path of an artist can be divergent and uncertain. After I graduated from art school I found that many of my classmates chose to not pursue careers in their chosen discipline. In fact, very few of my friends from college still create art. Financial and family obligations often negate the time set aside for the creative process, so I made it my mission to work in a creative field no matter what the job entailed. I assisted photographers, found freelance photography jobs and established Adam Collier Noel studio to cultivate my own artistic practice. I read blogs, watch how-to videos, and find anything that inspires me to be a better artist. All of this experience has allowed me to build a large body of artwork and has prepared me for my current position as director of MAC Art Galleries in South Florida.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an American photographer and collage artist who currently resides in South Florida. I graduated in 2002 with a BFA in photography from Herron School of Art and Design, Indiana University.

​Today I am the Gallery Director for MAC Art with three galleries in South Floria, and I also create original mixed-media collage and abstract paintings from Adam Collier Noel Studio.

The art world is a fast-paced, demanding business that is often unpredictable. One day I may be rehanging the entire gallery for an upcoming show, the following day I might be at a client’s home showing them selections for their living room wall and after that reviewing an artist’s portfolio to choose artwork that will be shown in the collection. I think people often think the gallery business is sitting back waiting for people to walk through the door, but it is very dynamic with many logistical challenges from sourcing of artwork to shipping, framing, installation, advertising, inventory and so much more.

Working closely with private clients on daily basis has given me insight into all aspects of the art market including art advising, sales, sourcing, and curation. Lately I have found one of the most important aspects is impeccable customer service. I have always viewed art as a luxury commodity and buyers expect me to be knowledgable and trustworthy. Gone are the days of people walking in the gallery and saying, ‘I’ll take that.’ Art buying has become more about cultivating a relationship with the collector and is often a slowly unfolding process. In fact, often I make several trips to a client’s home to find the exact fit for their space and taste. I truly enjoy helping clients build a personalized art collection while sustaining a fulfilling creative practice of my own.

As for my personal artwork, I have evolved from photographer to painter. My abstract and mixed-media creations have been exhibited in several art fairs including Scope Art Miami and Art Palm Beach. While I still love to incorporate photography into my pieces, I love the satisfaction of putting paint on a canvas.

Finding time to balance the daily demands of the gallery and my personal studio time is essential.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of my favorite aspects of the gallery is working closely with other artists. We have artists visit the gallery on a regular basis and we have even invited a few to participate in a series of video critiques. Sometimes young creatives just want to connect and get a sense of what it takes to become a successful career artist. I often advise emerging artists to establish discipline and to carve out time and space for a creative fulfillment. I tell them not to wait for inspiration to strike, but instead to develop creative patterns that become habit. Building a sense of community is an important part of today’s art world. Interacting and engaging with the people who are successfully navigating the art world is the best way to participate in the collective evolution. Connecting with creative individuals and art enthusiasts throughout the years who are contributing to the community in positive ways has been very rewarding.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2014 I moved 1,005 miles from my hometown of Indianapolis to my new South Florida address which, coincidentally, is also 1005. This relocation from the Midwest to South Florida has been the impetus for an ongoing series of artwork with a personal narrative of self-discovery. The subsequent body of work serves as an enigmatic visual diary of my artistic development and speaks to the power of transformation through translocation.

Uprooting one’s life for a new and unfamiliar destination should be considered one of the great feats of strength in this world. I equate this undertaking with the exertion of a handstand; an acrobatic action that takes courage, determination, balance and at any moment can come crashing down. This series features a single repeated image of men on a beach and symbolizes my geographical migration to Florida.

I have had a relationship to the handstand from an early age and even now as an adult I continue to demonstrate my balancing abilities in my yoga practice. The handstand, is an epic feat of strength, grace, courage, and beauty and is very difficult to master. This body of work is a reminder that advancing from point A to point B can be a defining journey full of ‘handstand’ moments in which we attempt daring acts and find either harmony, instability or both.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.adamcolliernoel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamcolliernoel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamcolliernoel

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