Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Mak.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised in Ukraine, and as a toddler, given pencils and paints and markers by my mom, who hoped that they would occupy me for long periods of time. It worked! The art thing caught on early. Later my parents signed me up for children’s art preparatory school, and that started long hours of lessons, which went on for the rest of my pre-teen years. The Soviet system of art education is very traditional, and frankly, I got a little bored with it.
My family and I immigrated to the States when I was 14, and I continued to create art on my own, but now I was free to explore many styles and subjects, trying to slowly find my own voice. Later I realized that my other obsession is travel, and my paintings started to depict cities, and buildings, and landscapes – influenced by all the destinations I visited. I went to college to get a business degree, but continued to travel and paint. After college, I moved to Chicago, and soon after decided to take the scary leap into doing art full-time. It’s been exactly ten years now since I’ve started to fully support myself with my artwork, and what a ride! I have no regrets.
Please tell us about your art.
I create acrylic paintings (on canvas and wood) that depict my experiences of travels and city life – done in the style of expressionism. These works mix geometrical elements with distinguishable buildings, landscapes, or creatures. My pieces are known for their non-realistic “signature skies” – that is where I get creative with patterns. My inspiration comes from things I see and photograph (of course!), various forms of art, street graffiti and textures. I infuse bright color and high contrast into my pieces, which makes them breathe with energy.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Hmmmm…. easier or harder – it has to be both! Thanks to social media, art became extremely shareable and accessible. You don’t even have to go beyond Instagram to see some of the most amazing work around the globe. All the talent that may not have had much visibility 10-12 years ago, is now right there at our fingertips. That said, competition has also increased! The playing field has been leveled, and artists who don’t have any high end representation can be just as successful (often, even more so!) than established names. Opportunities have increased, but a path of individual art career is much less predictable these days.
Chicago has been a very artist friendly city based on my experience, and organizations such as Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago Artist Resource, Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs helped jump-start my career thanks to their vast resources, workshops and lectures. Today, however, much of this information is available online and I think the emphasis now needs to be placed by our city into igniting connections and collaborations between artists and businesses. Chicago is a growing tech and business hub, and when these flourishing companies and artists continuously tap into each other’s recourses, it reinforces the culture of art appreciation and thriving creative talent.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
During the summer, you can see me (and my work) at various art festivals – please check the schedule on my website, AnastasiaMak.com (and that is also where my art is available for purchase online).
Additionally, a few Chicago stores / galleries carry my pieces (including originals and prints): Arts & Artisans in downtown, Jackson Jungle Gallery in Wicker Park, and Sacred Art in Lincoln Square.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://anastasiamak.com/
- Email: art@anastasiamak.com
- Instagram: @amakart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anastasiamakart/
Image Credit:
All images are by Anastasia Mak Art
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