We recently connected with Morgan DeLuna and have shared our conversation below.

Morgan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me! Learning my craft as a photographic artist has been anything but a linear process. From childhood until my late 20s, I oscillated between studio and performing arts. It wasn’t until I was studying Art and the Creative Process through UC San Diego’s Extended Studies program that I was exposed to photography as an art medium. I realized I needed to put down the paintbrush and pick up a camera. With photography, I could blend elements from all of my artistic backgrounds to make work that I found meaningful in a medium that resonated with me. So, back to school I went to learn the technical photographic skills I needed. Within a few years, I was finally able to start creating bodies of work that I have been fortunate enough to exhibit nationally and internationally.

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

I mentioned a little bit about how I became a photographic artist while studying studio art and the creative process. Along the way, I developed into a conceptual photographic artist, which is a fancy way of saying I’m an artist who uses a camera to make work about ideas.

I live in Southern California but was born and raised outside Minneapolis, Minnesota. Growing up as a multiethnic kid in an interfaith family fueled my curiosity about humanity. I directly experienced how different perspectives and ways of living can either be embraced by or clash with the society we live in. These experiences eventually became the foundation of my work, which centers on themes of the human condition. I use my personal experiences to connect to larger truths about humanity, which is why most of my work is self-portraiture.

The photographs I’ve shared with you today are from one specific series of work; however, when you visit my website, you’ll see that my photographic style varies. This is an intentional choice I make. Each of my projects focuses on a different topic about humanity, so I create a style that reflects and supports that theme from all aesthetic points. I carry this through to the size and type of paper I print on. What can I say…I’m a sucker for symbolism.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

It’s hard not to mention the pandemic when discussing pivoting. It was an uncertain time for everyone, and the art community definitely took a huge hit. I was in the middle of a group exhibition when California locked down. We had to cancel our artist talk and close the show early. During that time, my work/studio environment changed and the overall stress left me struggling to get into the right headspace to make work. If I’m not creating, I’m not thriving or my best self. So, in January 2021, I had to pivot. I stepped way out of my comfort zone and signed up for a virtual Creative Writing course with a local community college. I was secretly terrified I would be terrible, but I took the risk, and it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. I really connected with writing and met some wonderful mentors and fantastic people who’ve made my life better, creatively and personally. Writing turned out to be another creative avenue for me. It also enriched my photographic art practice by furthering my understanding of narrative and subtext. I wouldn’t have made that pivot if not for necessity, but I’m grateful I did. Doing so has made me much less reluctant to explore new paths.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is providing connection. I was lucky to grow up with frequent access to Minneapolis’s outstanding art museums, which played a significant role in my childhood and the artist I’ve become. I have such gratitude to all of those artists who made me feel, question, and appreciate the world around me. Feeling a part of something larger than yourself or seeing some aspect of yourself in another human being has always been what drives me as an art viewer and creator.

While my projects begin with a topic important to me, my main intent is to make art that encourages conversations and connections. When people look at my work and share their feelings or memories, engage in deep discussions with their friends, ask questions, or connect with stories about themselves, I know I’ve done my job. That’s what lights me up; that’s the reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.morgandeluna.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgan.deluna/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-deluna-14220ba8

Image Credits
Morgan DeLuna