Meet Joy Ray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Ray.

Joy, before we jump into specific questions about your art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I had a very DIY childhood, growing up in Humboldt County. I learned how to embroider, sew, do cross-stitch and needlepoint, draw, paint, garden, make all sorts of things. I kept making things, although for a long time I didn’t think of it as “art”. I moved to LA in the 90’s where I played in bands (Sissy Bar, Sevensoft, The Man), tried my hand at fiction writing and film-making, and eventually became a UX designer.

I turned back to embroidery and textiles in part as an antidote to the digital world. I love the simple physicality of fiber materials: fabric, string, thread. But traditional embroidery is very slow and painstaking, which I found frustrating. So I began to look for ways to incorporate more spontaneity, speed and emotion into textile/fiber art. I created my own vocabulary of stitches and began to work with paint, plaster, sand, paper, chalk, clay, even burnt toast. Hand-sewing and fiber materials remain a really important part of my work, but I think of what I do now as “textile paintings.”

Has it been a smooth road?
I currently split my time between Los Angeles and the Big Island of Hawaii. Each place has its own unique advantages and challenges. Los Angeles has so many incredible artists, galleries, curators, museums and events. But it can also be overwhelming. Hawaii is beautiful and inspiring, and time really seems to slow down—but most things have to be shipped in from somewhere else, and choices can be limited, so you have to learn to work with what’s available. My work incorporates ideas and energies from both places.

We’d love to hear more about your art.
I’ve always been fascinated by things that are mysterious: lost languages, secret societies, cults, ancient ruins. In my new body of work, “Postapocalyptic Petroglyphs,” I merge paint and textiles to create what I think of as mysterious artifacts from the end (or maybe the rebirth) of civilization. I explore how visual communication might be used in dire situations: to communicate covertly with others, to communicate with the Gods (casting spells), or as a way of documenting history. It’s so interesting to think about dreams, the afterlife, ghost stories, magic—are these real? It’s not always possible to know the truth. I love the feeling of existing in the presence of mystery.

Who else deserves credit – have you had mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients or teammates that have played a big role in your success or the success of the business?  If so –who are they and what role did they plan / how did they help.
I’m very lucky to be part of an incredible community of art-world professionals in Los Angeles, Hawaii and beyond. An important link for many of us is Kipaipai (www.kipaipai.com), an organization founded by curator Andi Campognone that runs professional development workshops for artists. Andi is a true powerhouse and a tireless champion of the arts.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joyrayart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/joyrayart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/joyrayart
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/joyrayart

Image Credit:
Photo of Joy Ray: Eric Minh Swenson
Photos of artwork: Marten Elder

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.