“Chromatic Quilt”
acrylic on cardboard
16×16″
2012

Briefly describe the work that you do.

I have two primary bodies of work, Post-Consumerism, which consists of painted assemblages made with recycled materials, and The Doll Project, a conceptual photography series about how women are portrayed in the media and its effects on body image.

At what point in your life did you decide to become an artist?

I knew from a young age (in kindergarten) that I wanted to be an artist, though it wasn’t until I was 28 that I finally decided to allow myself to pursue a career as an artist.

Tell us a little about your background and how that influences you as an artist.

I have a multidisciplinary background in the arts that encompasses a variety of fields. I studied film, creative writing, and interior design in addition to art. As a teenager, I attended a math and science high school. All of those things influence my work directly and indirectly.

“Thinspiration, 1969”
digital photograph

What types of conceptual concerns are present in your work? How do those relate to the specific process(es) or media you use?

My Post-Consumerism series is all about reusing recycled materials. As a result, I find myself saving things that most people would discard, from cardboard to foam packing material to paint skins. My environmental concerns extend to my immediate environment, which is why I only use non-toxic paints and adhesives.

“Journey to You”
acrylic on Styrofoam and cardboard
16×12″
2013

We once heard Chuck Close say he did not believe in being inspired, rather in working hard everyday. What motivates you in your studio practice?

I think that inspiration is still a driving force behind my studio practice, though I try to set aside studio days when I go there and work on something, even when I don’t feel like it.

What artists living or non-living influence your work?

Chakaia Booker, Lee Bontecou, Robert Rauschenberg, Louise Nevelson, Robert Chamberlain, and Hans Hofmann are the biggest influences on Post-Consumerism. The Doll Project is inspired by the work of Laurie Simmons and David LaChapelle.

When you are not making art what types of activities and interests do you engage in? 

When I’m not painting, I like to write, watch good movies, and work on interior design projects.

About 

Tiffany Gholar is a lifelong resident of Chicago, Illinois. She studied art as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago and interior design at Harrington College of Design and has a Masters Degree in Painting from Governors State University.

Her work has been exhibited in several Chicago area venues, including solo exhibitions at The Harold Washington Library and the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as in group shows at The Chicago Children’s Museum and The Chicago Center for Green Technology. When she is not painting, she works as a freelance interior designer.

Studio

 www.tiffanygholar.com

All images copyright of the artist and used with their permission.