Meet Scarlet Mann-Knapp | Artist/ Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Scarlet Mann-Knapp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Scarlet, how do you think about risk?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I grew up in the age of Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Winona Ryder— A time where beauty was glorified and feminism was atomizing to the point of perplexity. Starting out shooting fashion, my niche has always been women.

I discovered art when I was very young. Art — A world full of possibility — A world to go “down the rabbit hole” into — a world that could take me on a journey to other lands, lands where beauty could be controlled and perfection attained, frozen in time. It could provide a way out of the rigid, painful reality that is reality, and return me safely afterwards. It was an escape from my biggest enemy, the dullness of daily life.

I became a dreamer.

Throughout my life, I’ve had this sort of dance with identity, self-worth & self expression. Often times, it’s a struggle, and at other times, it’s fluent. Many times, I have felt like I wasn’t accepted or respected, or even rejected, whereas in other instances, the opposite would occur and I’d be completely magnetic. Whether it be tapping on the ever elusive door of the art world or just trying to feel comfortable and at-home in a party of hipsters, I’ve often felt like an outsider. So, being fascinated with the dynamics of this, I would channel these emotions into my art.

In my mid twenties, I became intrigued with shooting masks. There was something compelling about a faceless expression of our human experience. Were we all hiding a part of ourselves? Were we just projecting a veil of our choosing? The mask seemed to say a lot about the person in the imagery. It is subjective of course, for the viewer, but it does subliminally suggest some sort of a non-confront or constructed facade for appearances’ sake.

My voice is that of a girl, alone, on the edge of a world that seems always just outside of my reach. I am a part of it, but yet not — A small part of a very larger whole.

When I first begin a project, I sort of channel or tap in to something I am feeling visually, yet not quite sure why, and it eventually manifests reason through my lens. The meaning reveals itself to me the more I evolve the project.

Over the 18 years I’ve been with my husband, we have been taking late-night photos. I play dress up with lingerie, materials, etc. and he shoots me or I shoot us. I always feel so alive while we are creating these images. I feel young, artsy & fresh. I am completely inspired by it. He makes me feel beautiful, wanted, special, and loved. There are no rules while we create these images. It’s an opportunity for us to take risks, to explore without judgements. We co-create. We grab a scrap of brown leather, a ripped up stocking, a weird vintage-looking one piece bodysuit we found on Santee Alley, doesn’t matter, if the material lights us up, we play with it. I had this sequined journal laying around, and he created the most magical light reflection off of it and on to my body. This is where I come alive. No fashion rules. No higher-ups telling us specifics. No “No nudity” signs. It is invigorating. It is pure creative energy. It’s become my favorite project to date. There is space for magic to come through.

So, my latest project, GIRLS (release date- tbd), was inspired from those nights— I wanted to create something with my muses like what my husband and I were creating, not the traditional or expected fashion shoot, more of a gritty/ homespun type of feel, a reason to bond with other girls, break down the perceived barriers between us, to play. I’ve been nurturing and building upon it since.

My hopes for the GIRLS project is to explore the complexity of our female energy, the ambiguity, in considering its simplicities. It addresses my deepest insecurities, while tapping into the lightness of playing dress-up as a young girl, a sort of merging of my past and my present. It’s an honest expression of what lights me up, exploring the nuances of my own embodiment in being one of this fascinating gender.

While creating this new body of work, it has become a sort of healing for me. I hadn’t really planned it this way, but seeing it evolve in real time has been fascinating. I’ve asked my models to create audio files, speaking on the subject of being a girl, to go along with the imagery, and some of the stuff I’ve heard them express is nothing short of beautiful, witnessing just how similar we all are, yet completely unique, being that we all have our own cross to bear.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I would make sure they came in to town on a full moon. One of my favorite things to do in LA is a full moon hike. My husband, Richard Knapp, turned me on to this incredible experience. You get a group of friends together, pack your drink-of-choice (mine is Bourbon), and set out up the mountain just as the moon comes to full rise, usually around 9-9:30pm—the Hollywood Sign hike is nice, the Eagle Rock hike in Topanga, or just any of the gorgeous trails the Santa Monica mountains have to offer. It is actually surprising how few people you’ll see on the hike, considering the population of Los Angeles. You get this feeling of freedom, mysticism, and just so much rolling space to let your heart sing and spirit breathe.

My other favorite activity, again turned on to me by my husband, is to put on wet-suits and take a bike ride when it’s pouring down rain. We’ve done this all over, but my favorite was in downtown LA. The rain keeps all of the people out-of-site, and the scene becomes a magical way to take in the city. We rode through tunnels, up and down main streets, drank beers, swam around in the fountains at the Department of Water and Power, and then we made it a game to hit up as many fountains as we could, laughing and being rebels. It was surreal.

As far as where to go or what to eat, I think just cooking at home (I love a delicious homemade soup), having good conversation & really just feeling free to be our truest selves is my idea of a perfect night.

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?

Richard Knapp- I met my husband 18 years ago and never looked back. I have a soul that is bursting from the seams, and nobody would be able to contain me except him. He is a free thinker, supportive, kind, and he never bores. He is a gentle soul, yet fiery spirit. He has been pivotal in the forming of my character. It actually brings a tear to my eye to think about the quality and depth of our experiences over the years.

Peri Perry- I met Peri 22 years ago. She is an artist in the truest sense of the word. She specializes in interiors, design, and taste-making, but her magnetism lies in the richness of her energy, the meticulousness of her eye, and the uniqueness of her creations. I’ve never met anyone as deep and full of life. I even coined a hashtag for how to depict something done with aesthetic precision- #itsperiperfect

Serge Del Mar- Serge, fellow artist, is another special being that has been pivotally inspiring to me throughout the years. He has been through worlds of painful changes in his life, all-the-while continuing to show up pure, raw & strong, as the epitome of health and authenticity. He is one of the rare people who matches the fiery passion I also have within my heart.

Website: https://www.scarletmann.com

Instagram: @scarletmann

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarletmannknapp

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@scarletmann1

Image Credits
Photo #1 of myself: by Richard Knapp, my husband.
Photos #2, #3, #4, & #5 – Scarlet Mann-Knapp
Photos #6 & 7 of myself: by Richard Knapp & I
Photo #8 & #9 – Scarlet Mann-Knapp for GIRLS