Today we’d like to introduce you to CK Reed.
Thanks for sharing your story with us CK. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am an artist, graphic designer and set decorator working out of my studio in Los Feliz.
I make large colorful paintings and necklaces, influenced by my studies in landscape architecture and textile design. Currently, I am focused on finding free furniture and transforming the pieces with paint.
Everything I create is a narrative made up of pieces from different chapters of my life. I grew up in South Florida and spent a lot of time outside drawing Palm and Banyan trees. I’ve always been interested in plants. It influenced my move to Los Angeles 7 years ago from NYC. I saw photographs of Joshua Tree and the plant life and rock formations created a desire in me to see it firsthand. I thrive when painting outside. Plants often appear in my work and always catch my eye when I travel.
I’m also really interested in creating art for my community to enjoy. I recently completed a mural for the city of West Hollywood. It’s for a public arts initiative called Artful Distancing and the goal is to inspire neighbors to foster safe, creative ways to reconnect, recover and realign to the new normal of our separated existence. It will be up Oct 1, 2020, on Sunset Blvd across from Chateau Marmont.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road. A lot of trial and error and learning hard lessons along the way, but a ton of personal growth.
The hardest thing for me was leaving my 9-5 design career to freelance. It took a while for me to break that mindset that I could actually go off on my own and be able to support myself. It was unnerving at first but ultimately so much more rewarding and led me to experiences I could never have imagined.
Please tell us more about your art.
I consider myself a multidisciplinary designer. It’s hard to find a way to describe what I do simply.
I studied textile design which led me to wallpaper design, which strengthened my interest in interior design and further into styling and set design.
I became interested in graphic design along the way since textile design requires a lot of designing using various softwares. My graphic design skills span from packaging and website design to illustrations and for marketing and even books.
What were you like growing up?
I was always the tallest kid in class. Very creative, and thinking outside of the box was my specialty.
I am an only child and was great at entertaining myself which I am benefiting from now in quarantine!
I liked being outside and in the sun as much as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: ckreed.com
- Phone: 5613462420
- Email: ckreedart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.k_reed/
- Other: https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/ck-reed-designer-day/
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.
