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

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

As a child, I gravitated towards coloring, drawing, and creating. Art was my favorite of the extra curricular classes, and I prioritized it all through my schooling. In addition to art, I was very involved with ballet and jazz dance and decided to double major in Studio Art and Dance in college. Throughout my time at Tulane University, I was sure I would move to New York City after graduation and pursue a career in dance. But the tides changed towards the end of my time in college when I felt so burnt out and overwhelmed with the prospect of moving across the country to enter a highly competitive field. I could paint in New Orleans in my home, and that’s what I did. The more I developed my voice in my paintings, the more I was drawn towards the world of art rather than the world of dance. Painting can be done for a lifetime, while professional dance has a tight timeline. I wanted something I could do and rely on for the long term, so I decided to pursue painting. I am currently completing my Masters of Fine Arts in Studio Art at the University of Tennessee — Knoxville and am excited to re-enter the professional art world full time following graduation!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I create paintings that contend with disorientation, identity, and capturing the current moment. This stems from a desire to know myself deeply and to be known deeply by the people around me. Though my paintings are personal in content, I use abstract language to provide some separation between myself and the viewer. This allows viewers to enjoy the work regardless of the content while also allowing me to infuse the paintings with my personal thoughts and feelings. Painting gives me the space to be brave. I’m not afraid to face the tough life questions we all must ask ourselves when I approach the surface of a new painting. This thoughtfulness and honesty permeates my work, and draws people into the world of the painting. I am proud of myself for continuing to ask the tough questions and revealing my thoughts through my paintings. I chip away at problems steadily, and will continue to seek answers through visual language.

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

The best way to support artists is to value and respect the work we do. This can mean many different things like purchasing work, making space and opportunities for artists in business and government, and generally respecting and uplifting art and artists both publicly and privately. Making art is not easy or frivolous. Artists are connected to each other, past, present, and future, and are contributing to the knowledge of the human race. Painting is part of a web of liberal arts and humanities, and is equally as important as literature, politics, history, language, and music. A simple shift in language can be the first step to supporting artists and artistic communities. We can encourage young creatives to pursue art rather than warning them that they won’t make any money. We can speak with respect about artists rather than with confusion or disappointment. We can ask questions about art and know that fully understanding art isn’t the main objective. Art helps us think, discuss, and ask questions about life, the world, and our existence within it. These are valuable assets that society often forgets or overlooks.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As an artist, I get to indulge in beauty everyday. My daily goal is to use my hands and body to create something that adds to the beauty and complexity of the world. I know that it’s a privilege to be able to make my mark on the world in this way, and I don’t take it for granted. This is equally exciting and terrifying, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.meganwolfkill.com
• Instagram: @_megwolf_dancer_
• Facebook: Megan Wolfkill

Image Credits
Headshot is credited to Gali Du.