We recently connected with Stephen Haigh and have shared our conversation below.

Stephen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I don’t wonder what a regular would be like, because I’ve definitely worked my share and continue to, outside of my artistic pursuits. But I do often think how a creative my can be a blessing and a curse. I sometimes go to great lengths to produce my art, in ways that feel true. The creative mind is typically, when open is often one that sees value in many things. I have an uncanny ability to keep certain items around for my work, especially if there is a certain energy or vibration in the item. Sometimes these are found items, discarded by others. These items can sometimes collect, or take years to work them into my art. Other times I shed them when they haven’t found their way into use. Its kind of low key hoarding.

Stephen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My art is directly and indirectly shaped and influenced by my studies in design, as well as illustration. But perhaps even more apparent is my experience of growing up and living in a large city (Philadelphia). The living environment, the urban landscape, the decayed surface showing wear and the culture of city living are undeniable, and easily found in my work. My work exists in many forms from a large body of abstract works to more sculptural pieces, figurative paintings and commercial work that includes illustration and design. My experience working a day job in masonry construction and my interest in graffiti culture growing up also continue to reflect heavily in much of my work.

For me as an artist, it hasn’t been very easy finding my way. I was an artist or interested in art from my earliest memories. Growing up my parents weren’t artistic and weren’t knowledgeable raising a creative child. There were also few creative outlets for for an inner city kid growing up in the 80’s. In high school I struggled to maintain a balance with my art pursuits and my interest in athletics. Searching for this balance continued after high school and into college. I have a BFA in illustration and design and through my college studies I spent a lot of time working at the computer. I started painting more abstract works on much larger canvas during these years as a departure from the illustration and design work I was doing at the time. The abstract expressions on these larger canvases in my personal work felt free and more visceral, as I wasn’t bound by the parameters illustration or design work.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I have a recent experience where my resilience was really brought into question and ultimately put to the test. Nearly 4 years ago I was diagnosed with late stage nasopharyngeal cancer, or more commonly known as head and neck cancer. everything became a struggle. It was important to me to paint and express the extreme uncertainty I was dealing with. Its interesting now looking back at the work created while going through treatments, while also awaiting the birth of my daughter in the thick of the pandemic no less. Such wild times that were changing before my eyes very abruptly.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding things as an artist is something I mentioned earlier. I believe creative people tend to see value where others don’t. It can be a really useful tool in problem solving or just sharing something in an interesting way. Artists see the unseen!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stephenhaigh.net
• Instagram: @stephenhaighart
• Facebook: Stephen Haigh