Holly Morningstar - Studio 327

Hey, everyone!

I'm Holly, the artist of ArchaicSmiles Studio.  I am a native of Michigan, and I've been developing my craft as an artist since I was 17.

My art, no matter the medium, is at its core a self-portrait and celebration of feminism. Most of the figures are in no way an accurate visual representation of me, but of “every woman”. I am not interested in recreating things of this world that already have flesh. Instead, I bring my emotions or thoughts into the world by giving bones and breath, molding them from dusty daydreams or persistent nightmares that we all might have (or that society may attempt to create for us). I decorate them with familiar images from mythology and pop culture that reinforce my initial intention for the sake of effective communication with my future self and potential audience. I enjoy defining abstractions of my heart with concrete imagery because it makes me feel like I am rescuing them from the abyss of mundane life where they will get lost in between my next Diet Coke, shower, and phone call.

I create art for the same reason many scrapbook, or take pictures. I never want to forget. I don’t want to forget what it means to be human, and not just human, but a woman. I never want to forget what it means to live, breathe, hope, laugh, and cry. Art is essentially a means of self-expression for me, cathartic, and the liberation of love when I become overwhelmed. When I look at things I have created in the past, I can remember what I was feeling, what caused the emotion, the thought processes, music playing in the background, what I was eating, etc. Each drawing or painting is an intricate part of me.

While my artwork is personal, it is my goal to make it universal enough that any given viewer can walk away with their version of the core emotion, leaving both of us feeling slightly comforted that someone else feels something similar. I seek to connect women through the trials we face and the joy we experience.