Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carol Hannon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Carol thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
One of the greatest lessons my parents instilled in me was not to overthink decisions. Like so many immigrants, they came from Korea to America with a dream of something greater. My mom made the leap first, newly married and determined to further her education in a country where she knew almost no one. She endured much hardship — adjusting to a new culture, a new language, and countless challenges.
Years later, my Mom shared with me that if she had thought too much about all the risks, she might have talked herself out of coming to America. But it was her commitment and belief in herself that propelled her forward. She’s no longer here, but I carry her words with me whenever I face uncertainty: you have to choose to move forward — it’s inaction, not mistakes, that truly keeps you stuck.
As an artist, I live by that lesson. I don’t overthink the meaning or outcome of any particular piece. Rather, I immerse myself in the moment, letting each creative decision build on the next through intuition and feeling. It’s all about trusting the process and building a genuine connection between myself and the artwork.
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?
Creativity has always been at the heart of who I am. I come from a deeply artistic family—my father is a fine artist and my mother was a textile designer—so I grew up surrounded by color, texture, and the language of visual storytelling, and that foundation shaped my path from an early age.
While studying at Barnard College, I dove headfirst into the creative industries, completing 11 internships over four years—from styling celebrity wardrobes for VH1 to assisting the PR team at the Céline show in Paris. After graduation, I began working in fashion editorial and then display services but soon shifted gears when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I joined her textile studio, Rosekei & Company, to spend more time with her and to support the business by painting and selling original textile designs on silk to fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Vera Wang, and St. John. It was a unique blend of art and commerce—demanding, inspiring, and formative to say the least!
When I had my first child, I stepped away from full-time work—it was honestly a major shift not only in lifestyle, but in identity. Moving from New York City to suburban New Jersey, and later to Pennsylvania, meant reimagining my creative life from the ground up. In 2020, amidst the unknown of early motherhood and pandemic isolation, I returned to my roots as a visual artist. I began experimenting with acrylic painting, oil pastels and paper collage—mediums that were accessible and flexible enough to work with during naptime or moments of calm.
That limitation—of time and space—turned out to be a gift. Without the luxury to overthink, I learned to create with immediacy and instinct. I cold-called a few galleries with my work and was met with unexpected momentum. Today, I create paintings and paper collages that explore memory, color, emotion, and fragmentation. My paintings often begin with a loose underpainting in burnt sienna, where I develop negative space and form in an intuitive, almost meditative way. My collage process is led by color—a single hue will speak to me, and I’ll build an entire narrative or composition around that starting point. It’s spontaneous, responsive, and personal.
What sets my work apart is its emotional honesty. It doesn’t filter through a set viewpoint or subject matter or singular style rather I let my instincts guide my next steps and open myself up to the unknown.
Perhaps I’m most proud of how I’ve redefined my creative path on my own terms. My journey hasn’t been linear, but it has been deeply authentic and it is my hope that the audience finds a connection to my work that is from the heart.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
As a creative, I believe you can’t let your identity be defined solely by your latest piece, project, or show. Each piece is a distinct point in time—an expression of where you were emotionally, mentally, and artistically in that moment. If you become too attached to one outcome or one reaction or one success (or failure), it can hold you back. You have to trust yourself enough to keep moving, keep experimenting, and keep growing—especially when there’s no clear roadmap. Creativity is not a fixed destination—it’s an ongoing evolution. Your work is always changing because you are always changing.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
There is a book called The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle that transformed my outlook on life when I was going through an incredibly difficult period. No, this is not an overstatement! In a nutshell, the book discusses the importance of being present and how essential it is to release the past and the uncertainty of the future. Its message draws many parallels to Buddhism but Tolle delivers the message in a way that is quite literal and easily applicable—not just to personal well-being, but to how you approach work, creativity, and decision-making. It helped shift my mindset and continues to influence how I navigate uncertainty, both in life and in my career. A great read.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carolleehannon.com
- Instagram: @carolleehannon_art
