We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristen Woollery. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristen below.

Alright, Kristen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

High School was the first time that I knew I wanted to professionally pursue a creative path. During that time, I took a number of elective art classes (pottery, photography, graphic design and drawing) that boosted my creative confidence and ability. This would later lead me to apply for and land a creative internship at BET.com during my senior year. Although at the time, I misunderstood my role as an intern and instead thought I would be using my art skills in greater capacity, I recognize that it was, nonetheless, a meaningful experience. Particularly, what it did for me was crystallize the idea that it is possible to earn a living from your artistic passions, as I was in an atmosphere where people were doing just that.

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

In 2019, I decided to start painting again because I could no longer ignore my creative passions. These were passions that I’ve always had, but somewhere between graduating from high school with the enthusiasm for a potential creative career and adulthood, I lost the belief that it was possible to be financially stable doing what I loved. It wasn’t until I had my second child and was depleted in every way imaginable, that I decided to make a change. Ultimately, I realized that in order for me to be the best mother and version of myself, as well as successfully model for my kids how to live life well, I first had to start living and making choices that honored my dreams.

Once I made that decision, I organically started painting abstract portraits of Black women. My desire in doing so, was and still is personal. Being that I am a woman and of Trinidadian-American heritage, I yearned to highlight the beauty and diversity in the Black community, beyond the myopic monolithic viewpoint that we often see and are fed in the media. More specifically, my mission is to visually narrate stories of Black womanhood that are true and based on the women in my environment who were, among other things, vibrant, regal, resilient and rich beyond their socio-economic status. Optically, my work is heavily influenced by my Caribbean heritage and African ancestry, drawing elements from both to cultivate each piece that I share.

Since deciding to choose art as a profession and put my work out into the world, interest in it continues to grow and led me to launch an online store in 2021. Through my online presence I have enjoyed the success of selling original works and limited edition prints to a thriving community of collectors. This is an accomplishment that I am truly proud of, as it is especially significant to the teenage version of myself who dreamt of living this dream and helped me to persevere to this point in my burgeoning career.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the process of creating. Through this process I am able to tap into the past, present and future by way of my experiences, perspective, culture and imagination in order to birth something new into the world. For me, it is both powerful and spiritual. It is about getting still enough to hear my soul speak and tell its story through brush strokes and color. I deeply cherish the time I spend creating and refining my artistic voice because I learn new things about myself and by extension bring new elements to bear in my work. Ultimately, I recognize that there is an intrinsic gift in being able to simply be creative and the fact that it resonates with others is icing on the cake.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In my opinion its is simple, a thriving creative ecosystem can only be achieved if it is healthy and a healthy creative ecosystem is one that is diverse. Therefore, it is best to support creatives by amplifying, celebrating and uplifting all artistic voices and styles in spaces beyond the traditional museums and galleries. Seek out and support emerging artists. Get to know their stories. Share in their journeys and actively purchase their pieces because art is important and necessary, but it can’t thrive if the artist is starving.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kristenwoollery.shop
• Instagram: Instagram.com/lowkey.krissi