We recently connected with Lucy Black and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Lucy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
One of the earliest and most meaningful projects that left a lasting impact on me was my exploration into self-portraiture. It marked a pivotal moment when I realized that photography could transcend mere documentation of surroundings; it could become a deeply personal form of expression. This realization ignited a passion within me to create work that held personal significance. I learned that the depth of connection to a project is crucial; it’s not just about capturing aesthetically pleasing images, but about infusing one’s own experiences and emotions into the art.
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?
Hi! My name is Lucy Black and I was born in the Bay Area, but I now live in Los Angeles. I’m a multimedia artist who graduated from the Paris College of Art. My work is highly multidisciplinary, using whatever materials I can get my hands on. All of my work includes a sense of humor, irony, and absurdity to show the bizarre and heavy feeling of dissociation. I try to capture the imagery and movement that is comfortably familiar but invokes the unsettling yet unavoidable feeling that something is in fact off.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of creativity is play. This ingredient is central in my work. I love using everyday tools and materials in unconventional ways. Construction is a key aspect of my art, and I usually use whatever materials I have access to. That’s how I started working with the photocopier. A friend of mine worked in an office, and one day, when she was working late, I ended up messing around with the copier and created my first paper doll.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I was taught in school that successful art had to be part of a cohesive series in order to be taken seriously by other artists. I’ve been working on unlearning these outdated ideals and have grown to trust my process for what it is, even if that means showing my art in a non-traditional way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lucyblack.cargo.site/
- Instagram: @lucyislucyislucy
Image Credits
person photo by Stella Kudtritski. Photos of paper dolls by Jose Gonzalez photos of soft sculpture (bull and giant spider) by lucy black