Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Klein.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in Thousand Oaks, California, the middle child of seven kids. I started painting and drawing at a very young age. I was always in my own world amidst the chaos and noise of a large household. During high school, I took drawing classes at a great art institute close to where I lived.
I felt really lucky to have training from incredible artists such as Jeremy Lipking, Glen Orbik, and Richard Morris. During my youth, I received a lot of positive feedback about my ability to draw and paint which encouraged me to pursue a career of it. So in my early twenties, I started to hone in and ardently develop my body of work.
Back then, my media of choice was charcoal and oil paint, but I’ve never limited myself to the bounds of a canvas. I spent the next ten years developing my craft in Los Angeles. When I was young, my focus was on developing my drawing skills and painting skills.
Once I felt confident from that aspect, I directed my energy into making the work about play and discovery. In 2014 I got married, and my husband and I moved to Santiago, Chile. We focused all of our energy into making art and music while we were there.
Although I focused some energy into the meaning and intention behind my work, the subject matter arose more naturally as a product of my life experiences… my work became a culmination of being a middle child in a family of nine, my relationships, my experience living in Chile, and also my perspective as a woman… those things shaped my identity and moreover the content in my work.
When my husband and I returned to the states, we moved to Santa Monica, CA. The next few years was when I started to blossom as an artist. I began showing my work, getting representation with the Uncommon Beauty Gallery in New York, and doing collaborations with other artists and creatives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the biggest challenge I’ve come across as an artist is simply being a woman in a male-dominated field. Women are highly under-representation in the art world. I’ve always felt the need to go above and beyond to be taken seriously as an artist, just because of my gender. At the same time, I’ve always known my work is as valid as any artist, male or female, so I’ve continued onward developing my work.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I’m a multidisciplinary artist and use a variety of media in my work. I’m probably most known for my signature pastel palette. I create minimal figurative drawings/paintings and sculptural abstract paintings that explore the human condition from a female perspective.
I use extensive materials to create my lines, shapes and sculptural texture, including pen, pencil, digital drawing tools, oil paint, plaster, and metal wire. Through my work, I aim to champion and celebrate femininity. I’m aware of the fact that feminine design and tastes are valued lower than masculine, and want to bring equilibrium between the two.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment so far, I suppose is having my artwork shown at Art Miami during Art Basel this past December. I’ve always dreamt of participating at Art Basel among some other prominent art fairs, so it’s a huge accomplishment for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dreamysun.com www.uncommonbeautygallery.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ninaklein___
- Other: http://thecntxt.com/home/2018/12/23/nina-klein-committing-to-a-vision
Image Credit:
Sergio Diaz-Klein
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