YOU NEED TO KNOW VISUAL ARTIST HOLLY SCHRODER

Born into a creative family that fostered a freedom of expression, Holly Schroder uses art to navigate the world around her. We caught up with the young, Auckland-based painter to find out how she has turned her talent into a full-time gig, and her creative process.

She always been immersed in the arts from a young age – her parents had a glass blowing studio and her family friends had an art club where she would go most days after school. She moved up to Auckland to pursue a Bachelor of Visual Art and Post Graduate Diploma in Creative Technology. Over the last couple of years, she has been developing her art practice and working on a variety of projects. She currently practices full time at her home studio in Auckland.

Her creative process

The making process generally starts with sketching subjects from different environments – people, objects, buildings – things that she find intriguing. Then she refines these subjects to contour representations and position them all together on the canvas, using lines to twist, distort and intertwine them. It’s like a collage of stories. “Every subject is interacting and relating to the subject next to it. The layering of images and intertwining lines creates an experience of discovering hidden images” she says.

You’ve already achieved so much, what’s next for you?

“I’m currently learning 3D modelling software because I’m really interested in this as an art-making form. I have a few projects coming up this year like a giant neon sculpture and some interesting commissions. I’m also currently applying for some overseas artist residencies in Shanghai and the US. But other than that it is quite open!” -she says.