Meet Hannah Antalek | Artist

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

Hi Hannah, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
On days that I get to be in the studio without interruption, my dog needing to go for a walk is the only way I remember to take a break. In addition to my art practice, I work at a gallery full-time as a curator and exhibition manager – so, admittedly, I am not very good at having a work/life balance. Working with this intensity in the studio and at the gallery is the only way things will get done, but I do relish the rare morning when I don’t have a looming deadline, and I can wake up early and read while drinking tea on the couch, and then do some yoga.

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.
My work explores an imaginary post-human landscape with roots in science fiction and environmental crisis. The characters in my work most often take the shape of engorged daisies that appear more mycological than floral, suggesting a means of subterranean communication, and a broader interconnected network. Neighboring plant forms are an amalgamation of real and imagined botanicals that have undergone a hypothetical evolution in reaction to a changing world. Mysteriously backlit in vivid tones, each color cast is evocative of an unknown light source that might insinuate the presence of a second sun, a foreign moon, the heat or chill of a nearby chemical glow.

I started making this work about four years ago. I was inspired by many of the news articles that came out at the time discussing how many aspects of nature, previously impacted by human-induced pollution and climate change, began to undergo a gradual revitalization during the pandemic’s isolation. Many of these early drawings and paintings were loose and expressive, they were immediate almost stream-of-conscious sketches.

At the time, I was enrolled in the New York City Crit Club, a group of artists who would convene virtually to discuss each other’s work. I received the feedback that the drawings needed more focus and weight. Hilary Doyle (artist and NYCCC founder) suggested I try making dioramas so I could create my own source material and have more control over the forms, lighting, and composition while also situating the drawings and paintings in a more believable space. Now, every drawing and painting I make starts off with a small three-dimensional maquette.

The sculptures I create to populate these fictitious landscapes are made from either compostable and recyclable materials like paper mache, cardboard, and paper, or transform non-recyclable discarded refuse like styrofoam and plastic film into armature for new creations. With each new diorama, elements of previous scenes are repurposed so that each new artwork has a relationship to the last, creating an immersive and expansive alternative world.

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 Queens which has one of the most diverse food landscapes in all of New York City so we’d eat our way around the borough. Egyptian in Astoria, Indian in Jackson Heights, Thai in Elmhurst, Chinese in Flushing. We’d be sure to balance this with plenty of walking, probably in the Queens Botanical Garden, around Corona Park, or along the waterfront in Hunter’s Point. I’d take you to 5-50 Gallery and we could explore some other Queens art institutions like PS1, the Noguchi Museum, the Sculpture Center, the Queens Museum, and of course Citi Field. We’ll probably end up having quite a few beers at Alewife Brewery, conveniently located in my backyard.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Too many people to mention! I’ll start with my studiomate Michael MacDonald (https://www.instagram.com/foopboy/). He and I have been friends for over a decade, and I couldn’t ask for a better person to share a studio with. His work constantly inspires me, and I really trust and value his opinions – so it’s great to be able to turn to him for an impromptu crit. I have a great community of artist friends and my partner Dan Fig (https://www.instagram.com/dan.fig/) is an artist as well. I’d also love to give a shoutout to 5-50 Gallery (https://www.5-50gallery.com/), I’ve been working with them for the past four years and they’ve been such an incredible source of stability and support.

Website: https://hannahantalek.com

Instagram: hannah_antalek

Image Credits
Artist photo by Amber Larks
Artwork photography by Garrett Carroll