“I should probably confess that I’m three raccoons in a trench coat. It just so happens that one of those raccoons knows how to paint” was feminist artist Klaire Klaire Lockheart’s response to what she did for a living. She offered this response wearing a Teenage Mutant Ninjas t-shirt (which also appears in one of her works), and a plastic chainsaw at the ready. To say this recipient of the prestigious Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant was a blast to hangout with is massive understatement.
While the banter and humor is nonstop, soul-fed themes appeared that will speak to any artist or creative hungry to own their voice. Early on what stuck with me was her passion for her “chosen family” of artists and her husband, Aaron Packard (an incredible photographer). It speaks to the agency we all have to restory our existence in a way that supports our sense of self, our passion projects and life. It’s a beautiful moment, one of many, from the podcast.
On Frida Kahlo’s piece “The Two Fridas” Klaire notes, “She’s from a different time, a different location, a different culture, and different language, but I can still look at that painting, and feel like I get her.” Lockheart’s bone-deep passion for how people and artists express their humanity is central to her work. It’s a consistent theme throughout our chat.
At the core of it all is Klaire’s passion for “leaning into” her rights, voice, and value as a woman, a passion she also also has for the marginalized voices of the world. It’s one hell of an interview! I even impersonate a grandma taking Klaire’s selfie, and we discuss our need for a satirical film that puts the Kardashians in Star Trek. What’s not to love?
WHERE YOU CAN FIND KLAIRE:
Website: https://www.klairelockheart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klairelockheart/
WHERE YOU CAN BUY HER WORK:
https://www.artsy.net/artist/klaire-lockheart
MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
Pollock-Krasner Foundation:
Springboard for The Arts:
https://springboardforthearts.org/
Instagram - @
The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation:
https://www.elizabethgreenshieldsfoundation.org/
Instagram - @elizabethgreenshieldsfdn