Artist of the Month - Holly Mingo

We’re so excited to feature Holly Mingo as our Artist of the Month! Holly’s work is full of bold colour with an abstract expressionist style and has a psychedelic quality reflecting her admiration for the 60s era, often inspired by architechture, experiences, intuition and music reflecting the flow-state she enters when creating her work.

From childhood memories of creating colourful art with her hands to creating a new London attraction for the Wake the Tiger project, Holly’s journey as an artist has been full of exciting moments. We caught up with her to find out more about her inspirations, creative process and what she’s working on next...

 

Where have you found inspiration lately?

Mostly from experience and architecture, I've been really inspired by the work I was doing this summer and spending time in London which my recent works have been an expression of.

Is there a piece of art or a project that you are particularly excited about right now?

I'm currently working on a commission for one of my favourite music artists. It feels like a full circle moment as I have been listening to their music since before I started painting, so it's exciting to be able to see how far I've come in my journey as an artist.

What kinds of tools or references do you like to use when creating artwork?

I primarily work from a random idea or visual in my mind’s eye and then also listen to music to allow me to enter a flow-state where intuition guides the work.

 

 

What artists or artworks (from your life or art history) do you admire or consider influential to your work & and; why? 

Abstract Expressionist artists from the 60s, their insight into art as internal expression is something I carry a lot in my works and practice. I’m inspired by the likes of Da Vinci and Tesla too, their approach to innovation and exploration into what could be is something I find really inspiring. I don't really like to be too influenced by art visually as I like to explore my individual style.

What advice do you have for other new or aspiring artists?

I’d say just stay authentic, follow your own path/journey, and be confident (if you can). I think it is easy to get caught up in the noise of social media and the other modern elements deemed to be expected of artists but I think the foundations of an art practice should be personal first.

Professionally, what has been your biggest achievement so far?

Probably the mural I just created at Wake The Tiger London this summer, this project was something I've dreamed of since I started creating art. It felt although everything I'd been working towards came to this moment which was exciting if a little scary. It was great to be given the opportunity to also design the space I would be painting rather than be given an already situated space.

 

 

What is your first memory of creating art?

In nursery I vividly remember using our hands to paint/draw with some kind of pigment on

tables, this has always stayed with me for some reason. Also my mum used to take us for walks

in autumn, to collect leaves and use them to create paintings at home. I’d always loved drawing

but didn’t really believe it was an option as a career until my early 20s.

 

How do you spend your time when you’re not creating artwork?

With family and friends mostly. I also work as a designer / assistant for other visual production settings from short films to music videos. I really love world building not only in my paintings but in less abstract formats too.

 

 

9. What work do you most enjoy doing?

I think murals, I love being able to create works that can be experienced directly and

immediately, experience as a whole is something I love to explore and murals somewhat

guarantee it. It’s always really interesting scaling my works up too.

10. What is your dream project?

My dream project is to integrate my painting practice with interior / spatial design in an

immersive and experiential way. My works depict mini worlds that I see as projections of my

inner mind and I'd love to be able to build this as an experience in itself. As well as this I'd love

to create a huge detailed piece for exhibit.

We have loved getting to know more about Holly Mingo, and we hope you have too. Her work is so inspiring and vivid. We are so excited to see the final work she creates as part of her collaboration with her favourite music artist!

Thank you Holly for letting us into your creative world and sharing your story with us!

Find more of Holly Mingo’s work:

Website: www.hmingoart.com

Instagram: @hollymingo