We were lucky to catch up with Holly Nordeck recently and have shared our conversation below.

Holly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I’ve taken was leaving an old job I loved, and investing in myself as a creative and visual artist. After working with so many creative people at my old job, and seeing how they managed to make it as full-time artist I was inspired to try to do the same. I took the risk so I could invest in myself, my art practice, and push myself to places I’ve never been. Although my journey has just barely started, I’ve made more art in the last year than I have since college, gotten into a fair amount of art exhibitions, and will start teaching my first textiles/fiber art class in the fall.

Holly, 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 a mixed media artist and cultural worker, I work in drawing, photography, and fiber. I use my own images of trash, animals, and my body to express themes of mortality, human value systems, urban ecosystem issues, and consumerism. My interest in a monochromatic black and white palette paired with grotesque subject matter invites viewers into a surrealist abject world. My content matter, and material choice inform further investigation into matters regarding her mental health and identity as a femme.

I currently work and live in Golden, CO. I graduated with my BFA at Colorado State University in 2016, My visual art has exhibited at Lincoln Center (Fort Collins), Arvada Center for the Arts (Arvada), StoreRoom (Denver), and Bell Projects (Denver). I have worked in cultural institutions since 2016, where my focus is producing participatory events in collaboration with Denver creatives. I am experienced in event production, creative consulting, public engagement experiences, and art focused facilitation and currently would love to work and collaborate on creative projects with others.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to communicate my thoughts, feelings, ideas into a visual language. Through my visual language, I am able to have discussions and exchanges with others that I might not happen successfully through another media.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew how important my community would be as a resource. I always knew the value of my community but it wasn’t until I stepped out onto my own where my community really showed up for me and provided an abundance of resources and support.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.holly-nordeck.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holllyeho/

Image Credits
All image credit courtesy of: Holly Nordeck