Meet Amanda Hunter | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Hunter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, why do you pursue an artistic career?
I am an artist because it’s a compulsion. That’s the most simple answer.

I have always felt this irresistible itch to create. The classic story of a young kid who can’t stop drawing – I remember my mom always pulling receipts and scraps from her purse so I could draw. It wasn’t until later in life that I understood you can pursue being an “Artist” as a career. Sometimes I feel like that realization is still sinking in.

Many years after art school and from living many lives in New York, I now understand that being an artist is about nurturing your ideas, taking risks, and being resilient.

Making art has always been my modus operandi, a way to process ideas and feelings. Hovering over a painting for hours or scavenging for source materials is when I am the most content. For me, the only choice is to be making art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since I was young I have been collecting old photos, found drawings, and forgotten notes. I am intrigued by the acts of collecting and storytelling. In my studio, I have amassed a growing archive of thousands of small clippings from books, magazines, and newspapers from different decades. I paint these ephemeral fragments in 1:1 scale, using the language of collage, and compose them like treasured photos and stickers on a scrapbook page. Through painting, they are re-authored and new relationships emerge through their placement.

The beauty of art (to me at least) is that you do not need to have the answers. Art can be an open-ended question.

When making my paintings, I never predetermine the composition or what images I will use. As I work on a painting, I constantly return to my boxes of clippings to rummage for new bits to add. The paintings slowly unfold and piece themselves together.

Being an artist is not easy. There are many highs and lows, but at the end of the day, it’s not about which painting sells or how many people see it. It’s about cherishing the opportunities of time and freedom to pursue an idea. Art is an escape, a space to understand the surrounding world. And if one painting can inspire a new thought or lead to a conversation, even if only between friends, that moment of connection is the purpose of the work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
With a friend in town – food, bookstores, and art are the priorities. I love having a friend visit because you often find new gems outside of your normal haunts. But if showing them around, I would be sure to take them to Librae Bakery for a special pastry & coffee – I regularly dream of their halva croissant. We would pop into some of my favorite new & used bookstores such as Human Relations, 192 Books, and Spoonbill. We would get lost in The Met or gallery hop in Chelsea or downtown. One of my favorite things about New York is the wide range of grocery stores, so we would go to Sahadi’s for snacks and next door to Damascus for the Baklava and then stroll down to Brooklyn Bridge Park to see the sunset and take a moment to reset.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am beyond appreciative of my friends and artist peers! They keep me grounded and inspired – shout out to NYC Crit Club for fostering a supportive & growing community of artists. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my dear friend Ryan, who encouraged me to move to Brooklyn with him when I was 23 and so confused. I am eternally grateful for the continued guidance of Susan Harbison, my high school art teacher, and Judy Glantzman, my RISD sophomore professor – both artists and pure inspirations! To artists Kate Shepherd and Elena del Rivero, for welcoming me into their studios and showing me how to be an artist over the years. And of course to my mom, who is my rock.

Book recommendation: “On Connection” by Kae Tempest

Website: https://amandahunterstudio.com

Instagram: a_rose_hunter

Image Credits
n/a