We recently connected with Emily Peacock and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I was born and raised in Port Arthur, TX. I had never taken an art class when I went to college; I didn’t know much about art. I went to Sam Houston State University for Criminal Justice and changed to Forensic Chemistry after my freshman year. During my sophomore year, I decided to take a photography class. It was the most challenging class I had ever taken. I was always good at math and science. Despite my high school heavy drug habit, I graduated with honors. Art was different; it wasn’t about memorizing vocabulary or formulas and was hard for me. I so desperately wanted to impress my professor. I decided to take another class and keep working on it, and then it became my major. I actually have a Bachelor of Science in photography and journalism. I spent most of my undergraduate years in the darkroom looking at the black and white photography greats. Arbus, Woodman, Gowin, Meatyard, and Mann greatly influenced me. (like so many) I wasn’t an art major but spent most of my time in the art department. After undergrad, I took two years off, got married (later divorced), set up a darkroom in my house, and shot pretty often. Then, I moved to Houston for graduate school at the University of Houston for my MFA. Since I didn’t have an art degree, I felt a little behind that first year and almost dropped out. I stuck with it and taught myself how to print in the color darkroom. I began to focus on my family in graduate school. I was such a piece of shit when I was a teenager, and I felt like I had finally matured and realized that I had been missing my family and wanted to get to know them as an adult. They were very supportive; that was the beginning of a decade of collaborations. Like most families, mine is crazy and full of drama but also lots of love. My family is always ready to help each other out. My mother used to be my assistant, help me with projects, and be in my work. I was still shooting only film my entire graduate career (2008-2011). I was stubborn about switching to digital.
Right After graduate school, I had my first solo at Lawndale Art Center a few months out, which kept me working. It was a big collaborative project that involved most of the family. I also got the studio at Box 13 during that time. It was essential to keep a studio practice after graduate school. I didn’t even realize how important it was then. Family continues to be a massive theme in the work,
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Based in Houston, I hold an MFA in Photography/Digital Media from the University of Houston and serve as an Assistant Professor of Art at Sam Houston State University. Over the years, my art has been recognized through various grants and exhibitions across the United States and internationally. My pieces are housed in esteemed collections like the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. I collaborate with my family to delve into the complexities of our bond, exploring familial history, relationships, domestic life, and the Texan landscape. Loss and tragedy also shape my artistic journey. Alongside my art, I navigate the world of stand-up comedy, using humor and self-deprecation to cope with life’s struggles.
During the pandemic’s isolating phase, I found myself admitted to a psychiatric hospital. As restrictions lifted, I eagerly embraced the outside world, though sometimes stumbling along the way. My recent work reflects on the pandemic’s profound impact on human connection, merging technology and nature in surreal photographs that challenge our digitally driven existence.
I find beauty and significance in the ordinary, believing that seemingly mundane objects or places can carry immense meaning for individuals. This philosophy guides my creative process, rooted in memoir and regional familiarity.
I am currently represented by the gallery Seven Sisters, Houston, TX.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Support your local scenes, DIY venues, and artists who keep it authentic. And while we’re at it, how about giving us decent healthcare and a livable wage?
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In 2015, I started writing the film shortly after my mother passed away. After all, I collaborated with my family, mainly my mother, for a decade. Losing her is the hardest thing that I have ever experienced. When you lose someone that close to you, it changes you and makes you think about things you want to accomplish. I have always wanted to make a film and stand-up, and I started both. I started writing different scenarios and working closely with my friend Peter Lucas on developing a screenplay. Peter went to film school, and he really put me through a crash course in film. The film is about a young woman named August who finds herself in limbo as she quietly goes through the motions at family gatherings, her job at a photo processing business, her artist presentations, gallery openings, and awkward relationships.
I did stand up for a few years, but then I had a child, so I had to put that on hold. Since the pandemic, I’ve been performing stand-up comedy frequently, and I absolutely adore it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.EmilyAnnPeacock.com
- Instagram: @epeacock
Image Credits
Emily Peacock