Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Campbell.
Audrey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine arts from Georgia State University. I studied a variety of fine arts in school from Interior design, Textiles, Photography, Sculpture, to Printmaking. I started with a love of fashion which was my main influence in art. I originally wanted to be a designer. I started in retail positions throughout college and eventually transitioned into wholesale at AmericasMart. I worked in sales for many showrooms through gift, home, and apparel and did this until I got my first opportunity in a creative job.
I received the chance to work as a Scenic Artist for a fabrication company where we did many custom sculptures for hospitality spaces as well as many installations on museums around GA. I worked on the Dahlonega Gold Museum, notable Fort base museums, and some beginning groundwork for the Atlanta Cyclorama. It was the best first job I could have asked for and I learned a lot about fine-finishing, sculpture, and scenic work.
I eventually transitioned back to the mart as a showroom manager for a UK based company. I got to be apart of re-designing their showroom as well as selling their social occasion clothing line during Atlanta markets. I really loved watching the showroom spaces come to life and being apart of the design aspect.
Recently, I started working with a construction company to help with design selections for current projects. I get to work with vendors to do all the interior and exterior selections within custom homes, entry-level homes, and business to business projects. It’s easily the most stressful job I’ve had managing multiple builds at one time. However, I love that I get to utilize everything I have learned up to this point.
Staying in a creative job is and will always remain important to me. It allows me to do what I’m best at. I have bounced around to many things because I believe that’s what your 20’s are for. Testing and trying out new things is the only way to understand what best suites you. Every opportunity I’ve had has only enhanced my personal portfolio allowing me to brand myself and grow as an artist.
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 don’t think any path you take is ever going to be smooth. I’d say the hardest task and challenge for me has been tuning out the noise around me. Whether that’s comparing myself to others or trying to live up to societal expectations.
I remember a lot of times in school being judged because of my major. Nobody thought I could get a job with Studio Art and honestly, they weren’t wrong at all. It was really challenging to find things people would hire me for. I struggled trying to maintain a positive demeanor in myself. I felt I had a lot to offer but wasn’t getting the chance to even interview. I took jobs nobody with a college degree should be working, as well as unpaid internships, while also working part-time jobs just to build more onto my resume.
Looking back, what was important to me is knowing when a position isn’t serving you anymore and allowing yourself to move on from it. We are trained to stay in something because we think we need to spend a certain amount of time in it to look decent. I’ve found that I’d rather keep looking than remain stagnant in something I’m not growing in or not good for. Trusting your own opinions versus feeding into expectations has helped me move forward and be happy.
Modaest – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Modaest (pronounced modest) is my take on what traditional modernism would be today. As an artist, I wanted to be able to creative direct more of a lifestyle brand versus just using my name. I gravitate to art with structure, clean-lines, balance, and color. My portfolio ranges from design, graphics, prints, and clothing. I thoroughly enjoy taking the new and combining it with traditional fine art practices. The definition of Modernism is to “break free from tradition” which I apply to my life as well as everything I make.
I recently finished working with a Nonprofit in Atlanta called the Atlanta Printmakers Studio. I have been working on graphic abstracts that I have mixed with photos I’ve taken featuring Atlanta architecture. Once the restrictions of COVID lift and everyone is safely able to return to businesses, I’m the most excited to get back into the studio and print what I have been working on while in quarantine.
Also, a big part of my focus is repurposing vintage clothing by utilizing patchwork and low immersion textile dyeing. I was recently asked to be apart of my friend Janae’s business Vulpine Supply Co. Working with Janae has been really inspiring because she shares a lot of the same ideas about our community as I do. Majority of what we make focuses on donations to local charities as well as sustainability for the planet.
Atlanta has inspired a lot of my art and I wouldn’t be who I am today without the creative community in Atlanta. All the people and businesses that are centered around artists being able to remain creative is whats kept me going and I’m proud to be apart of it. My variety and combination of practices is definitely what makes me different. I enjoy looking at the bigger picture versus one aspect and I always strive to remain curious and learn new techniques. I have many ideas I hope to achieve so the sky is the limit!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
As an artist, there are many moments that go up and down. I’d say any of my proudest moments have been after shows and watching people react positively to what you’re selling. It’s a very rewarding feeling to know when people like and support what you are doing. I definitely feel the best about myself anytime I make my family proud. If I had to choose a specific moment, it would be taking the risk to switch my major and graduate in Studio art. My grandmother when she was younger wanted to go to school in art and her father wouldn’t let her because women at the time didn’t go to school and especially not for something like art. My grandmother was my first art teacher in my life, so I’d have to dedicate that moment to her. I got so lucky to have the support from my family to choose that path and I wouldn’t have been there without her.
Pricing:
- Prints $20-$300+
- Clothing $10-$300
- Photo Coasters $10-$45
- Acrylics $20-$100+
- Framed Textile Dyes $20-$40+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mod-aest.com
- Email: aestheticallyaudrey@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Mod-aest @vulpinesupplyco
- Other: @audreycampbell
Image Credit:
@shootingshutters @madsbphotography
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