Insights

Image Credit: Kristin Gallegos

Artist Bio:

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1992, Lindsey Price is a multidisciplinary artist and designer. Her educational journey began at an all-girls boarding school in Wellesley before pursuing a BFA in Photography and Digital Media from California Institute of the Arts. Price's artistic approach characterizes a fusion of digital and analog collage, painting, design, and animation. This evolution demonstrates a mastery of seamlessly integrating diverse mediums into experimental mixed-media creations through her work.

Price’s captivating large-scale collage work is not just a product of her unique vision but a gateway to otherworldly and vibrant realities. Emerging from a rich tapestry of magazine cutouts spanning through the decades, these collages are meticulously crafted through a blend of digital and manual composition and manipulation. Each piece beckons the viewer to explore the endless possibilities and narratives woven within, encouraging a careful examination and sparking the imagination. The idea of escapism is significant in understanding how her work is meant to be experienced. Her work serves as a breakaway from reality and offers a diversion or fantasy where the viewer is thus captured within a world of peace and creativity. 

Lindsey has been featured in publications such as SPIN magazine, Art Plugged, and Tainted Magazine. Additionally, her work has been exhibited widely amongst renowned museums and galleries such as The Santa Monica Museum of Art and the Orlando Museum of Art, solidifying her presence in the physical and digital art spaces.

Price is currently living and working in Los Angeles, California

About the featured artworks:

Neon Odyssey, 2023

This artwork titled Neon Odyssey uncovers "techno-portals" to the future, offering glimpses into the cyclical nature of time through its mesmerizing and vibrant archways. In this piece, we as the viewer witness the seamless passage and reversal of time in an endless loop. The artwork draws on themes of retrofuturism and escapism, key influences within Lindsey's work. Retrofuturism evokes idealized visions of the future as imagined in the past, blending nostalgia with imaginative futuristic concepts. This style pays homage to past dreams of the future while providing a visual commentary on our aspirations for what is to come.

Central to the composition is a figure moving from right to left, symbolizing the flow of time. This hypnotic and organic motion resonates with viewers, reinforcing the theme of temporal passage. Neon Odyssey invites us to transcend our present reality, exploring infinite alternate realities and reflecting on the myriad possibilities within our own lives. This interplay between movement and balance, reality and fantasy, encourages us to escape and explore the endless potential of our future and realities.

Night of Passage, 2024 

"Night of Passage" offers a contemplative exploration of how we confront unpleasant situations, presenting three distinct options: change, acceptance, and avoidance. These choices are depicted through diverging pathways, each leading in a different direction. This visual metaphor invites viewers to consider the literal and figurative "pathways" available in response to challenges.

Unlike the dynamic animation of "Neon Odyssey," this piece utilizes static imagery to evoke a sense of flow and movement. The composition and vibrant colors guide the viewer's gaze across the artwork, naturally leading them through the curvatures and into the central portal. This journey through the piece encourages an introspective exploration of the various paths one might take when faced with difficulties.

Both of these artworks include experimental digital collage and animation containing scanned imagery from vintage magazines.

The interview:

Paloma: Can you tell me a bit about your background in the arts? What educational background or experiences have influenced the development of your preferred medium and style?"

Lindsey: I began my artistic journey as a painter and illustrator in my childhood and later transitioned into photography. I wanted to find a medium that could combine all my skills and interests into one place. During high school, I participated in pre-college programs at UCLA and the Maryland Institute College of Art. After graduating, I attended the California Institute of the Arts, where I studied photography and digital media while also taking classes in different programs like fine art, graphic design, and animation. 

During my college years, my interest in digital art grew as it allowed me to explore various dimensions of art in a way that physical art could otherwise not. As I continued to refine my craft, my style evolved and it was a journey of self-discovery that led me to find a medium that would fully harness my expertise. Finally, I discovered experimental mixed media, which I refer to as 'collage paintings.' This unique blend of my passions for photography, painting, design, and animation has become my preferred medium and style.

Paloma: In what ways has architecture influenced your work?  Could you share insights into the architects or architectural styles that have inspired your creative vision? 

Lindsey: Collage has always fascinated me due to its transformative power, allowing me to construct and shape my own worlds like an architect. I enjoy reimagining the past and future in a contemporary context. I draw inspiration from various architectural styles such as brutalism, googie, bauhaus, and expressionism, as well as architects and designers including Luis Barragán, Mario Botta, John Hejduk, Antti Lovag, Verner Panton, Le Corbusier, Paul Rudolph, Marvin Goody, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Stable, horse pool and the Egerstrom house, designed by Luis Barragán and Andrés Casillas, 1976. 

If given a chance to start over, I would study architecture. Architecture creates differentiation within a space, adding quiet moments and juxtapositions to nature. These spaces have a push-and-pull, much like dreams. They are idealized scenes that unite opposing forces to realign what we think is possible. In essence, architecture creates a sense of structure and organization that is necessary for our surroundings. What do we have without structure?

Bubble House designed by Architect Antti Lovag, 1975

Paloma: Does this interest in architecture translate into this recurring inclusion of portals or portal-like features within your work?

Lindsey: Architecture is my compass in the creation of my pieces. The portals, a recurring element in my work, are a reflection of the theme of escapism. They symbolize the vast unknown, the infinite possibilities that lie ahead. My aim is to blend various elements such as places, people, and cultural moments, creating a narrative of visual harmony. These creations may be surreal, but they are also aspirational, blurring the lines between the real and the imaginary. 

DreamWave, 2022

Paloma: What does your creative process look like? How do you fuse the analog and digital collage to create your final pieces? 

Gemstone Utopia, 2021 42" x 42" x 2.5" Powdered pigments, acrylic paint, analog collage, and resin on wood

Lindsey: As an artist, I am often asked about my creative process. I use a combination of analog and digital techniques to create my final pieces. Physical artwork allows people to appreciate the textures and materials used, while digital art offers a different experience. 

To create my digital pieces, I scan various images and manipulate them digitally. My physical works are crafted on custom wooden panels using spray paint, acrylic paint, laser-cut plywood, powdered pigments, resin, and analog collage. I'm always experimenting with different mediums and techniques. 

My creative process involves planning and designing a piece either digitally or physically and then executing it in the opposite medium. Although it can be challenging, I enjoy experimenting with bringing work from the digital realm into the physical world.

Paloma: You often discuss the idea of escapism in your work. Can you tell me a bit more about how you hope to convey this in your art? Do you have any artists you draw inspiration from?

Lindsey: My work, whether in physical or digital form, centers around the theme of escapism. Each piece aims to transport the viewer to a paradise where nature and artificial elements harmoniously blend.As someone who is constantly consumed by thoughts and emotions, creating art is a way to visually express the ideas that occupy my thoughts. I simply follow where my mind leads me.   

I find inspiration in various artists with unique and distinctive styles. From Pedro Friedeberg's surreal and intricate line work to Beverly Fishman's geometric sculptures with precision and modern aesthetic. Jennifer Guidi's experimental paintings are filled with vibrant colors and elaborate textures. Charles Wilkins skillfully blends cut-out imagery, while Lionel Williams creates celestial virtual realities. Zhuang Hong-yi's use of folded and painted rice paper is fascinating. Lastly, Eric Louie's shimmering and luminescent paintings showcase masterful techniques. These artists, among others, continuously fuel my own creativity and artistic endeavors.

Paloma: Your art displays a striking blend of compositional brilliance and vibrant color. How do you go about selecting your color palettes, and is there a deeper significance to your preference for bold and vibrant hues in your pieces?

Lindsey: Colors have great significance in my personal and professional life. They embody hope and optimism, and working with color palettes poses unique challenges. Interestingly, I am especially attracted to bold and vibrant colors in my work as they serve as a means of escaping darkness. To me, colors are like rays of light that guide me out of the shadows and into a bright and colorful world. 

My work is a reflection of my current state of mind. My environment and life experiences often influence how a piece turns out, making them a manifestation of my psyche. As I work on a piece, I have a vision that I need to see through until the end. Even though the outcome is not entirely clear in my mind, I trust the process, and the pieces I assemble ultimately guide the outcome. 

Paloma: How does the concept of retrofuturism influence your artistic vision and the themes explored in your work?

Lindsey: Retrofuturism is a movement that combines elements of the past with futuristic ideas to create something new and exciting. This concept challenges us to think about the future in creative and unexpected ways by blending vintage and modern aesthetics. It involves taking the best of what we've learned from the past and using it to shape the future.  

In my artwork, I aim to create a surreal experience for the viewer by using bright colors, unique shapes, and interesting textures. I find inspiration in architecture and spatial design, and I enjoy exploring themes such as futurism, surrealism, and the combination of past and present. These concepts allow me to push boundaries and create something truly distinctive and captivating.

Ring of Reflection, 2022

I believe that visualizing the future is an essential step in making it a reality. In my view, the imaginary is just as real as the world we experience in our daily lives. Through digital or physical mediums, I strive to bring my fantasies to life and give them their own existence.  

Art has the power to transcend boundaries, communicate with people on a universal level, and shape our perception of the world around us.

Paloma: Could you provide insights into the magazine clippings utilized in crafting the piece 'Neon Odyssey'? What was your process for constructing this particular artwork, and how does the incorporation of movement enhance the retrofuturism themes present in your body of work?

Lindsey: Throughout the years, I have gathered numerous vintage magazines, which I have used to create unique pieces of artwork. Before beginning a new piece, I carefully consider the emotions, environments, and moods that I want to convey to my audience. By combining elements from both the past and present, I aim to evoke a sense of nostalgia while also challenging traditional ways of thinking in a futuristic context.

 One of my recent works, Neon Odyssey, features magazine clippings that serve as techno-portals into the future. These portals create a never-ending, hypnotic loop that represents the passage of time and its reversal. By incorporating movement into my artwork, I amplify the theme of retrofuturism, inviting viewers to explore a world where both the past and future coexist.

Neon Odyssey, 2023

Paloma: Your piece, Night of Passage, features pathways diverging in opposite directions. Was this intentional, and if so, what significance does it hold? Furthermore, could you elaborate on the symbolism of floral blooms in your work and its connection to your exploration of the divine feminine

Lindsey: While creating my artwork "Night of Passage," I was reminded of a conversation with a friend where we discussed the three choices one has when faced with an unpleasant situation: change, accept, or remove oneself. Therefore, I intentionally created pathways diverging in opposite directions to showcase the different paths one could take. 

In my artwork, I often use floral blooms to symbolize growth and reproduction, similar to women's qualities. In ancient times, flowers were considered a connection between heaven and earth.

"I incorporate the divine feminine in my artwork as it represents women's powerful and nurturing qualities" - Lindsey 

Night Passage, 2024

Paloma: Tell me about the interplay between your physical and digital mediums. How do they correlate, or how do you see these two mediums in conjunction or separately within your practice? 

Lindsey: I am currently exploring the relationship between my physical and digital mediums in my artistic practice. Initially, I intended to keep my physical work separate from my digital work, but I sometimes use digital mediums to help create my physical pieces.  

Both mediums can be used together or separately. For example, I create digital NFTs exclusively, but I can also take photographs of my physical pieces and convert them into digital works.  

I believe that providing both physical and digital assets to collectors is a valuable idea. Additionally, I have been experimenting with AR technology to bring my physical works to life in a digital realm.

See Lindsey’s available work exclusively with SuperRare here