Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Killion.
Alexandra, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
As a child, to my mom’s dismay, I have early memories of pushing furniture around to re-arrange our home. Once these creative instincts were confined to my own room, my parents encouraged whatever decorating ideas I could dream up. This once included mosquito nets and covering my walls with brown paper to paint animals around the room for a safari space inspired by one of my favorite books.
I was born in Houston and have grown up here as the daughter of an opera singer, Richard Paul Fink. His unique profession allowed me to travel internationally, giving me the opportunity to experience music and art from as early as I can remember. I became addicted to travel and loved to soak up all the different art and architecture from the cultures of other countries. Fortunately, Houston is a city that’s known for its amazing diversity in art, food and entertainment. We enjoy a city where a dinner out can transport you to another place or country.
While my father was often working on the road, my mother was and remains CEO of Birkman International. Birkman offers a behavioral assessment that was created by my grandfather. Having grown up in this environment that emphasized emotions and behaviors of individuals, highlighted the importance of “understanding people” when you design for them. It’s crucial to listen to your client and to understand their individual needs. Trust me, when you work with a couple on their home, deciding what color their bedroom should be can become a more controversial subject than you may think!
After completing my degree at the University of Texas in Austin, I returned to Houston where I continued my design education by working for several firms with contrasting design specialties. This included a traditional architectural finishing company, a transitional interior design firm and a colorful contemporary design company. Immersing myself in these wide-ranging design styles helped me develop a love of marrying contrasting styles together in unexpected ways. I think it also allowed me to adapt to any style my client is seeking—from antique French to mid-century modern and ultra-contemporary décor.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My passion is beautiful interiors! While I also do exteriors, my primary focus is creating interiors that can serve as livable art for my clients. An interior that I design for you should truly reflect your personality and your story. It should be an inspiring and uplifting space that welcomes you home each day. Whether you’re seeking calmness or energizing motivation, the rooms you surround yourself with can play a significant role in shaping your moods. This is of course true for commercial spaces as well. Whether you’re walking into a dark, sultry steakhouse or a bright, colorful brunch venue, each design style speaks to the kind of experience you’ll have there.
On the developmental side, it takes many thoughtful and beautiful details to create one large work of art. For me, every moment of design space matters and is important. I’m convinced that it’s the attention paid to the tiniest detail that sets your work apart to make it memorable and exciting for the client.
When it comes to incorporating different elements, I also believe it’s important to begin with a few antique pieces. These help us feel grounded and can bring a sense of history to the space. In so many of these older treasures there is such incredible craftmanship. This is art and furniture that transcends trends and will always be in style. My special delight is to combine flourishes from ornate classics with contemporary pieces. The bold and clean lines of contemporary art can offer the eyes a rest while providing visual interest. I’ve found that adding some modern art or unique, crisp furnishings can dramatically update a room. This combining of old and new can bring people forward in their current spaces. My hope is for people to come into a space I’ve designed and feel uplifted and inspired! This space should hit nodes of classic elegance and familiarity, while offering an energizing and wonderful experience.
The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to guarantee financial success as an artist. In such a competitive industry, getting started is difficult, but it’s important to set a value on your services. Entrepreneurial artists are often willing to compromise their pricing to make a client happy. We artists are emotional beings so it’s no simple task to put a price tag on your creative labor. Yet, the most damaging thing you can do is to under-value yourself and your time. Under-pricing can diminish your legitimacy as an artist in the eyes of your consumers. After all, you work hard to create what you do!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The best way to get a sense of my style, current projects, and day to day is to visit my Instagram page @alexandra.killion.interiors. I love meeting new clients, vendors, and other designers through Instagram daily.
I also have a website, www.alexandrakillion.com, which is accessible but currently undergoing construction (like most of Houston!).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexandrakillion.com
- Email: alexandra@alexandrakillion.com
- Instagram: @alexandra.killion.interiors
Image Credit:
Jon McConnell with Cinescope Creative Photography
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