We recently connected with Celeste Croteaux and have shared our conversation below.

Celeste, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful series I have created is titled, “Liminal Sermons” which I completed in 2022. It is a series of 8 x 10 photographic prints of churches. I edited the photos to create a dream-like effect with low contrast and heavy saturation. It was my final project for art school, and working on both the photos and show set a key point in what subjects I want to focus on in my work. All my photographs were taken in rural Texas and New Mexico. I grew up in a highly urbanized, but conservative area in Dallas, Texas, but my mother grew up in rural America. My artwork focuses on rural America, how it is often overlooked, and the economic and social issues those areas often face.

Celeste, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an interdisciplinary visual artist, I am both a photographer and a painter. I have shown work online and in galleries since 2022, and my work has been shown in six different U.S. states. I have also worked in the art industry in art galleries as well. I am currently in the process of opening up a print shop where I can sell posters and fine art prints of my work. I have developed skills in creating large amounts of content in short periods of time. I enjoy traveling in my car around New Mexico and Texas and seeing interesting things, and it makes me happy when people message me that they are excited that I have taken photos of their town. My editing style is unique, I create a nostalgic and dream-like state in my photographs and paintings.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had started sharing my art on TikTok and Instagram sooner. I did not like using social media for a long time, and have just recently started sharing my work under the username “yeehawfaerie” on TikTok and Instagram, and overall the responses I have gotten have been positive. I also was in the process of getting my studio art degree during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut off a lot of resources for me. I was unable to access a darkroom or photo printer until my senior year of college, which slowed my learning process down.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After I finished art school, I always assumed I would be working in advertising or in art galleries assisting curators. Immediately after finishing school, I got a job at an art gallery that I left after four months due to ethical reasons. I felt that the owner’s business practices were wrong and went against my values on several different issues. I worked several different jobs after leaving and began selling art and participating in juried shows on the side. I was surprised by the positive reception I received, selling work in those shows surprised me, and I am now able to focus more on my artistic practice.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: yeehawfaerie
• Other: TikTok: yeehawfaerie