Coutesy of Crista Rock (@cristarockphoto) and the Hellis Foundation
Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Conley.
Tara, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in a small town in beautiful Western New York State and moved to Houston twenty years ago knowing one artist friend. My parents have always been supportive of my brother (an attorney in Lexington, KY) and I as individuals. From them, I learned about the importance of meaningful relationships, creativity, hard work and how to make things happen.
Houston is the “energy city” to me because both locals and implants from around the world are people that want to make things happen. I had one part-time job at a foundry when I moved in 1998 that lasted a year. In that time, I met a talented craftsman that I continue to consult with, business owners that still lend support and advice, and inspiring patrons and artist friends that stem from my time on the board at ALH. I started showing in coffee shops, then galleries and my work evolved from small-scale steel and bronze pieces-to colorful otherworldly fiberglass and cotton works – to pieces based on phrases I have collected for years and into large-scale public art. Year after year, I have found studio space to create my sculptures in locations that have kept me connected to people, places, and materials I need to thrive.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
As a sculptor, I have used materials from fiber to fiberglass and all kinds of metals. Close attention to connections, surfaces, and clean design honor the media I choose and stem from my craft background. I start with line drawings, often gathering many and arranging them together over weeks or months. After choosing which I’d like to make first, I create a model (two-six weeks) to troubleshoot issues that may occur in a larger scale and finally build the sculpture full size (two-four months).
Recently, my line drawings have become three dimensional, establishing form without volume in a lyrical way by using steel and stainless steel one inch round bar.
My passion for material and form ignite my imagination every day whether I am daydreaming in the woods, in awe of industrial architecture or welding in the studio.
When people linger with my sculpture; exploring a connection to it, contemplating how I built it, wondering if they could climb on or walk inside it or when they feel an energy and excitement for it, I am very pleased. Personal, delicate, and small, I’ve made bracelets using my collection of phrases and in creating public art I reveal the challenge of making intimate work on a large scale.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what quality do you feel is most helpful?
As an artist, I would define success as having artistic freedom with the courage to use it to create whatever your heart desires.
Desire is essential, good energy and momentum make it happen.
An amazing studio space and the combined support of family, friends, and community definitely helps with all of the above!
Makes me think of a road trip – your desire to reach a destination in this machine that will expose you to wondrous adventure. You need to work to fuel the roadster and take care of it and keep it going but you love the machine and you respect its need for fuel and the fuel itself. You desire the adventure and all the work involved is really love.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The City of Houston, South Gessner Police Station has an eighteen-foot outdoor stainless steel sculpture, an indoor steel and glass piece and thirty-two cast bronze phrases throughout the building many of which can be seen by the public twenty-four hours a day. I have four outdoor public sculptures throughout New Orleans, two associated with Sculpture for New Orleans in Lafayette Square and along the Poydras Corridor, one at the Henry and Pat Shane Sculpture Park and one in the Elmwood Shopping Plaza, all of which may be seen day or night. Also, artist Joe Barrington and I created a permanent courtyard installation at Texas Tech University’s Rawls College of Business.
Located in Rice Military, my studio handles appointments and sales and I may be reached at tara@taraconleyart.com.
Instagram and Facebook.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taraconleyart.com
- Email: tara@taraconleyart.com
- Instagram: Tara Conley
- Facebook: Tara Conley
Image Credit:
Studio Images: Felix Sanchez,
Tara’s Image: Crista Rock (@cristarockphoto)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
