Meet Claire Keifer

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

Hi Claire, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Art has this quiet power to connect people—to remind us of our shared emotions and humanity. My work often begins with something personal—an image, a memory, a feeling—but once it’s shared, it becomes something others can connect to. That’s the heart of it for me: creating spaces where people feel seen, moved, or inspired.

I’ve collaborated with organizations like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help honor loved ones and raise awareness, which has been a deeply meaningful way to use art in service of healing and remembrance. I also recently created the label artwork for a new bourbon that’s launching soon. It’s been incredible to help bring someone else’s vision to life—and to use my creativity in a way that helps others reach their own goals.

On a different but equally heartfelt note, I created Cinnamon Girl Charade, a Lana Del Rey–inspired brand that includes enamel pins, prints, and a poetic little card game. What started as a personal tribute to her music turned into a way to build community. People come together over these shared aesthetics and emotions—over a sense of beauty, sadness, nostalgia—and I think that’s powerful in its own right.

Whether it’s fine art, collaborative design, or pop-culture-inspired projects, my work is always rooted in emotional connection. If it helps someone feel more understood or more inspired—even in a small way—that’s impact.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is rooted in emotion—it’s about memory, beauty, loss, and the strange, poetic in-betweens. I’m drawn to the tension between softness and intensity, between abstraction and clarity. What sets my work apart is how personal it is, even when it’s not autobiographical. I’m always trying to tap into something deeper than what’s on the surface—something that makes people feel rather than just look.

I’m most proud of my ongoing series, The Tragic Muse, which explores archetypes of femininity through both literal and abstract interpretations. It was born out of my love for music, mythology, and emotional storytelling—and it’s been a way to explore how art helps us lose and find ourselves again. I’m also excited about the ways I’ve expanded my creative practice beyond the canvas—like working on a bourbon label, or building my Lana Del Rey–inspired brand Cinnamon Girl Charade, where I design pins and card games that connect with people through aesthetics, lyrics, and nostalgia.

Getting to where I am hasn’t been easy, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be. I’ve had to learn how to trust my vision, how to self-start, and how to keep going even when things felt uncertain. Like many artists, I’ve faced self-doubt, financial pressure, and the challenge of carving out time and space to create. But I’ve also been lucky to grow up around strong, creative women—my mom and sister both run their own businesses—and that showed me what’s possible when you lead with passion and persistence.

What I want people to know about my work is that it comes from a real place. I’m not trying to sell perfection—I’m trying to offer something honest, layered, and emotionally resonant. Whether someone sees one of my paintings in a gallery or finds a pin from my side project that makes them feel understood, I hope they walk away with a sense of connection. That’s all I’ve ever really wanted my art to do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, I’d want them to experience the magic and contrast that makes LA so special—where old Hollywood glamour meets dreamy landscapes and creative energy.

First stop would be the Chateau Marmont. It’s my favorite place in LA—there’s just something in the air there. You can feel the history, the mystery, and the quiet kind of glamour that lingers in the walls. The hotel itself is stunning and timeless, but it’s more than just the aesthetics. I love dining at the restaurant, and there’s nothing like swimming in the bright blue ripples of the pool under the moonlight—it feels like a scene from a film you don’t want to end.

Just down the street, I’d take them to The Comedy Store, another iconic LA landmark. It’s gritty and hilarious in the best way. I always leave with my cheeks hurting from laughing so hard. It’s the perfect counterbalance to the elegance of the Chateau.

During the day, we’d explore some of my favorite creative spots—maybe the Broad, LACMA, or Huntington Gardens. I love wandering through art spaces and botanical gardens that feel like living works of art. There’s something really peaceful about it, like you’re refilling your soul just by being there.

Somewhere between studio visits, beach walks, and late-night talks over wine, I’d hope they’d get a feel for the side of LA I love most—the one that’s full of beauty, humor, creativity, and little cinematic moments that stay with you.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely—so many people have shaped my path, but if I had to spotlight one, it would be my mom, Kathleen Keifer. She’s an incredible artist and businesswoman in her own right, and I’ve learned so much from watching her navigate both with vision and grace. Working alongside her in her studio and restoration business has not only taught me about craft and entrepreneurship, but about resilience, generosity, and staying creatively curious over a lifetime.

I also want to shout out my sister, who runs a brand called Cursed Concepts. She creates artwork, enamel pins, and all kinds of quirky, clever pieces. I’ve always admired how she started that company from the ground up and manages everything herself. It’s inspiring to see artists become entrepreneurs—to build something completely their own, with creative integrity at the core.

And finally, I’m endlessly grateful for the community that’s formed around my work—friends, collectors, fellow artists, and even strangers online who’ve shared kind words or connected with something I’ve made. That encouragement fuels me more than people realize. No artist creates in a vacuum, and I’m lucky to be surrounded by so much support and inspiration.

Website: https://www.clairekeiferart.com

Instagram: clairekeifer