Meet Sylvia Estes | Sculptor and Assistant Gallery Curator

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

Hi Sylvia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My aspiration is to live a life that feels meaningful. I want to find the potential for artfulness in the world around me. This pursuit feels more like a lifestyle than it does a career. It’s not something that I do for the money, it’s not something I think I could ever retire from – it’s just who I want to be. I would still pursue these things if I had to support myself in a completely different way.

I feel extremely fortunate that I’ve been able to make a living from my interests and passions, but that wasn’t always the case. I’ve had to work really hard and at times sacrifice comfort and convenience in order to get to a place where I feel secure in pursuing my art and curation as a supportive endeavor.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I make sculptures out of discarded and found materials. I believe that beauty can be cultivated from the mundane and the overlooked. My most recent project has been making lighting sculptures out of the recycling generated in my kitchen. I start by cutting up and taping together cereal boxes. I then papier-mâché layers of newspaper, coupon catalogs, and tissue-paper over each form. The result is sculptural pendants that hang and gently illuminate space. I like how each piece repurposes existing materials, becoming useful as both lighting and as a means for recycling. I make each piece at home – always considering how my art practice fits into my daily life. My creative endeavors have always been deeply integrated with my sense of self. I have worked as a farmer, a cook, a teacher, and now as a gallery manager/assistant curator. Each of these professions have enabled me to consider different mediums and have influenced the work I make now. I am really interested in the roll that art plays in our daily experiences, from the ways we eat and interact with the natural world, to how we construct and decorate space in order to create stories and senses of place.
Ultimately what I hope my work demonstrates is that the potential for artfulness surrounds us.

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 New York’s Hudson Valley, which means there is no shortage of natural beauty and interesting history. When people visit I love to show them mountainous views along the river, take them to quaint little towns like Germantown or Tivoli to eat delicious farm-to-table meals at restaurants like Gaskins or The Corner. I appreciate the slower pace to life, the meandering country roads, the beauty of each season, and the artistic community that feels at once inspired and down-to-earth.

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?
I would love to shout out my brother, Zeke Estes. Zeke is such a kind, thoughtful and creative person. He also works in the art world at a Gallery in Manhattan. He is an incredibly talented artist, making intricate line-drawings and beautiful prints. He inspires me to work hard, to stay active, and to pursue my dreams. We grew up making art together, and I truly would not be where I am without my family’s support – thank you for believing in me!

Website: https://www.marymacgill.com/collections/sylvia-estes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylv_estes/

Image Credits
Em McCann Zauder