Meet Monica Griffin: Visual Artist / Art Director

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

Hi Monica, how do you think about risk?
I think there’s two sides of takings risks. There’s the inward risk, what goes on personally when you take a risk and then there’s the external risk, which is how other people view what you’re doing. Everyone forms their own narrative. I think that’s why risk is so scary for most people, sometimes a seemingly small step feels like a huge leap to oneself, and you’ll never be privy to the outcome ahead of time. I’ve taken a lot of risks in my life. Nothing outwardly adventurous like sky diving or swimming with sharks, but very big life changing type risks. I’ve moved around quite a bit chasing one thing or the other and have had to work really hard to get where I am. I’ve had to fail and start over a lot. Each time I feel like I shed a layer and grow into a truer version of myself. In regards to my art practice, vulnerability has been the greatest risk for me. As an artist, we are asked to be vulnerable for show. We analyze and emote and create based off of those sometimes visceral reactions and then put it out into the world to be judged. We’re hoping for connection. In our mainstream society, however, vulnerability is often taken advantage of or viewed as weak. There’s been a lot of growth for me particularly in this space: risking staying 100% true to myself and my work no matter what’s happening around me and trusting the process. Ultimately, I feel like artists take risks every single day just by creating work and putting it, and as an extension themselves, out into the world. Hopefully, with great risk, comes great reward.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an Art Director by day so pursuing my Visual Art practice is a great balance for me. Designers are creative problem solvers. It’s important to have a clear message for your audience. Most of the time, we’re selling something for someone else. Painting allows me to be more abstract and to form my own dialog with a viewer. Sometimes inspiration hits and you’re creating more from a feeling than a specific goal. In both cases you’re hoping to make a connection with your viewer, but I love how through Art, there’s a lot of room and openness for various interpretations. When I sit down to work on a painting, I leave my designer’s mind and enter a more boundless and free-flowing artist’s mind.

I feel like as a creative, we should think about Art as responsibility. We have platforms to drive change. In 2020, I’ve been feeling that more than ever. Luckily with WFH, I’ve been able to spend a lot of time out in Nature. My work has always been influenced by this but what I’m seeking to do in my new series is to interpret and preserve elements from our fragile natural landscapes. Whether that’s a feeling or a gradient or the starry night sky, I want it to be witnessed and held in time by putting it onto canvas. I then take the painting out into the landscape that inspired it and photograph it. Ultimately, I’d like each piece and the environment to work together to create a beautiful homage to Mother Earth. This has been a great way to stay busy!

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.
In a pre-pandemic world, I’d stack our itinerary with outdoor sights, art explorations, desert jaunts and good food. We’d start at a coffee shop in Venice (probably Alana’s or Dues Ex Machina), hop on bikes and cruise up to the palisades or go big and ride to Manhattan Beach. On the way back we’d stop for Brunch. We’d then drive to The Getty (that view!) or get a hike in at Inspiration Point or Griffith Park (I like the one that starts at the Merry Go-Round). Since we’d end up on the Eastside, we’d have to do the Trifecta in Atwater Village (Margs at Salazar, Shopping at Left Bank, then back across the street to Zebulon (a staple I used to frequent in 2010 when they were on Kent Ave in Brooklyn). Then, if it was a Saturday, we’d walk up the LA River Path to attend my friends comedy show at Spoke Bicycle Cafe and enjoy laughs under the stars. Any other night of the week, we’d head to Moonlight roller disco to skate and dance. Other key things would include stargazing at the conservatory or out in Joshua Tree, sunset picnics in Topanga or paddle boarding in MDR. Oh, and most definitely a drive around to look at LA street art (I swoon over all the original neon and hand painted signs).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that deserve credit and recognition in my story! I somehow managed to finagle the most beautiful and supportive friends on the planet, so thank you to all of those special people who truly believe in me and my art journey. You know who you are! Specifically, I have to thank Liam, who for 10 years has always supported my work no matter what (you’re a stellar Art Assistant to boot) and someone who has taught me to be softer with myself. Massive thanks to Phil Amoss, who partnered with this Brooklyn newcomer in 2010, when I was still completely out of my element, and guided me through curating my first art show and event. You showed me a community of amazing artists and creators, which helped ignite an everlasting spark. I’ll be forever grateful. Last but not least, thanks to my LA crew who each have their own creative dreams and endeavors but remain an encouraging and collaborative force.

Website: www.monicagriffin.com
Instagram: monegrams