Meet Alexandra Hammond | Artist & Branding Consultant

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

Hi Alexandra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I really didn’t think about going into business for myself. In some ways, it happened on accident, but when I look at that more closely, I can see that it made perfect sense for me, because I have always been entrepreneurial and self-motivated. When I was a kid, I did tons of projects with my friends, from lemonade stands to holiday present-wrapping businesses to performance groups and building miniature worlds. I feel that all of my childhood projects directly honed my skills for what I am doing today. In some ways, my journey has been one about remembering that these skills of imagination, resourcefulness and teamwork are the ones I really need to do my work. I’m an artist and have always studied art. I learned the branding business on the job. The field works for me because, like art, it is the place where images and ideas come together.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As an artist, I make paintings and conceptual projects. Some of my paintings are brightly-colored mobius strips and other pictorial framing devices that invite viewers into a blue gradient — the contemplation of the void. Some of my paintings are large-scale transparent ink drawings on silk. I also love creating backdrops that delineate space and create images that people can be inside. My conceptual projects often involve meditations and conversations that invite viewers to participate.

My branding work serves ventures that are working in the sustainable and regenerative space. These include conservation and land stewardship organizations, mutual aid projects, artisan food brands and some creative individuals. I help bring clarity to complex, interdisciplinary projects. It’s like, how do we tell clear stories that are embedded within complexity and interconnection?

I often say that art and branding use many of the same skills, but to different ends. Branding work helps answer questions, simplify, streamline. Art asks questions and leaves doors open.

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.
I live in NYC, so I’ll give an NYC rundown:

Go to the Metropolitan to see what is classic and old, then head downtown to Dimes Square to see what the young kids are wearing. Eat great Spanish food at Cervo’s, then stop by Beverly’s to check out a DJ set or an artists talk and see artworks that are made and installed with the idea of how people will relate to them. Make sure to look at the East River and notice how much NYC is a city surrounded by water — a tidal estuary. The best thing to do in New York is walk everywhere. You will never be bored because the city is full of surprises.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I take an ecological view of reality and believe that everything we do as human beings exists within a whole system of relationships that are biological and socio-cultural. We live in a social reality that we create with others. A big part of my identity is being a sibling and the youngest of three. Being much younger, I learned how to listen. My writing and speaking comes from listening. I come from a very creative family. My commitment to being an artist and a designer feels generational. In a lot of ways, I feel that I am getting to live the dreams of my parents and grandparents. That can feel heavy at times, but I think it’s most empowering to think of it as a gift.

Website: https://www.alexhammondstudio.com/

Instagram: @alexhammondstudio

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-hammond-2aba914/

Image Credits
Main photo is taken by Mimi Schiffman
Other photos by Jessica Murphy