Katy Hirschfeld On Creating Collage Garage And Designing The World Of Her Dreams
By: Subarhi Verma
Our audience loves to read stories of women creating a positive change in the world. Please tell us about yourself and your area of work.
About me, I’m very much ME. And I hope that that rings loud to all women around the world, each and every one of my pieces is a large part of me screaming “This is me”. In a world where so much is crazy, I’m trying to feel a little less so, and these pieces give me the outlet to do so. I grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where my thirst for creativity and expression began. Ever since I can remember, my mother (a free-spirited woman who was an artist as well) encouraged me to reach beyond normalcy and pursue my own form of artistic dialogue.
Every artist starts his/ her journey from a point of inspiration. What inspired you in the first place to create?
At the age of five, I began collaging and the rest is history. I am yet to stop. I love how limitless collages are. There are truly no boundaries, which is how art should be for the artist and the viewer. It’s really amazing to be able to create various plots and subplots in my work and manipulate them as I go along. Furthermore, I appreciate the fragmented approach — it reflects the way my mind works on a daily basis, focusing on a bunch of little things at once to form a larger picture or thought. I went to Seattle on a teen tour many years ago. I was there for one day and it really led to my style. I fell in love with the grunge aesthetic and from that point on I wanted to replicate that vibe and try to instill it in my work as much as possible.
How has your business grown over the years? What services do you currently provide?
I offer handmade collages coated in high-gloss resin, custom collages (digital or handmade), and many products such as blankets, phone covers, and apparel. I also do collaged surfboards.
I studied politics in college and had a photography elective. That changed my life forever. The space and time to create left me salivating for more. I would spend every night in the darkroom, I never wanted to leave. I knew then that creating was not something I wanted to do, it was something I’ve always been and always will be compelled to do. It’s a compulsion, if I’m not creating, I’m not fulling being me.
What does your day-to-day schedule look like?
My day-to-day has been something I’m still trying to perfect. Working from home and being your own boss regardless of what’s going on in the real world, is not easy. I try very hard to stick to a routine, I work until I feel I need a breather, then I either go for a run or search for more collaging material. Then I’m back to work.
What advice would you like to give to other artists that might help them to flourish in this field?
As far as advice, it’s so important to be yourself, it’s the most important, anyone can make art but not anyone can do it in the way that you, uniquely, can. Being yourself is the piece of advice I could have told my 14-year-old self every year, once a year. Also, be your own advocate, shameless self-promotion isn’t actually shameless, it’s respectable when you have confidence in yourself.
Where can our audience find your work?
My work is on my Instagram @katyilana and website www.collage-garage..com
What can we see coming next from your creative genius?
I’m currently working on a mural, details will be released soon.