Claire is an up and coming multidisciplinary artist with a focus on yonic themes. Her series with geode-like representations of the vulva are a new yet happy familiar take on seeing repetitions through nature. This elevated view of the body allows us to undo shame, and a culture of control. Claire was kind to speak with us and give us some insights into her world.
I often find that I pull inspiration from emotion, feelings, and my surroundings. I discovered my current concentration (vagina art) in 2016 when Trump was first running for president. I was a terrified teenager, filled with rage, and feeling a bit helpless/ hopeless. One of my biggest fears at the time was what could happen to women’s rights. So, I started sculpting hundreds of tiny vaginas... I turned them into earrings and sold them to raise money for Planned Parenthood. Since then, vaginas continued to appear in my work- and through my subject matter I was able to discover and come to terms with my sexuality. Inspiration from sapphic relationships also began to take up space in my pieces. Vaginas, rage and sapphic relations haven’t been my only inspiration- I’m from the flat lands of the Midwest and in the past 2 years have lived in my van and settled in Colorado. Since moving out west I’ve been inspired by vast and all-encompassing landscapes and have found joy in turning them sapphic or queer. The connection of my sexual identity and nature is important to me as I believe nature is inherently queer.
Representation can feel like validation of existence. Queer art is queer existence. I believe representation and expression are some of the first steps in creating a safe space. The more queer art representation seen in society the more others will be able to express themselves without fear of being oppressed. Art is humanizing, art is connecting, art builds bridges between communities and art can tell a story that words can't, art creates perspective into the queer experience and allows us to take up space. Art allows the sapphic experience to live and breathe in any realm it pleases without being over sexualized or dismissed. Sapphic representation in the art world is representation in the real world. That representation facilitates creating safe sapphic spaces which are increasingly hard to come by as there are few sapphic spaces across the US, making it harder to find community. Sapphic representation creates a sapphic community.
I create art for a Sapphic audience. Painting/drawing parts of the body we hide and feel shame towards in an ethereal, magical & prideful light helps me to regain autonomy over my body and sexuality. My hopes are for my art to do the same for the sapphic community. To create a safe space where other sapphics feel empowered and seen.
I aspire to take up more sapphic space to get connected with a larger sapphic audience/community and for my work to be seen by people it can empower. I am a young artist hoping to expand my artistic career. I am aiming to find more opportunities, to work on a larger scale, to create larger pieces and to reach more viewers. I am open to any projects or collaborations with other sapphic creators.
SM: What is your creative process like, from conceptualization to the finished piece?
What has drawn you to your specific palettes, or motifs? Is there a style of art that you identify more with?
It seems that my creative process goes one of two ways- either a completed vision enters my head, and I can execute it as imagined. Or I have an idea for a concept but not a clear vision. In those instances, I create an idea web where I start with a concept/word and make a web of ideas related to it, or I play with colors and sketches until I have a clear vision. There are some pieces I get addicted to working on and will finish the piece in a day or 2. Other times I sit with pieces for a while and pick them up and add a bit here and there as I find inspiration. I cycle between sitting on the floor with materials scattered about, taking a piece to the park and working on it, or sitting at the table with my easel. I dream of having my own studio space. Speaking on my personal style, I tend to be drawn to bright or playful colors, patterns, textures and unexpected details. As for motif -I am inspired by sexuality, my queer identity, the female form, sapphic relationships, and taking up sapphic space- I typically find a way to incorporate a vagina or something yonic in nature into most of my work.
As I began to explore and appreciate my sexuality, my subject matter grew to reflect that, my art ever evolving alongside me. As I discovered my concentration (work sapphic & yonic in nature) and my sexuality I was able to refine my skills and style allowing my work to feel more cohesive.
I don’t have memories from a time where I wasn’t making art. To be honest, art has always come a bit intuitively to me. I honed my skills while attending art school at The Ohio State University where I got to explore print making, digital art, ceramics, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and other mediums. I find that my chosen medium is at times dictated by my mood or the space around me. I currently live in a small apartment with no studio space which has facilitated the use of more digital art. There are also times where I feel I need to play and explore colors, textures, and tactile senses – in these moods I paint, draw, or collage. The vision I have for a piece will also persuade the medium I choose!
SM: "Do you have any words of wisdom to your younger self?
To always do what feels authentic to you. For when you are most yourself everything around you will fall into place. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and share your ideas even when they feel “out there”. Judgment is temporary creative impact is legendary – take the idea and run with it who cares what the critics say. ideas that push norms break norms and the norm must be broken.
Claire's work can be purchased at: https://clarifiedarts.etsy.com
Follow Claire's journey through Instagram: @clairified.arts
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