TRENDER: Artist Scott Holloway

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Kelly May, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Photo: Jessica Lovina of Studio Lovina

Who are the people from Central Mass leading in arts, fashion, food, and style? They're Trenders, and GoLocalWorcester offers glimpses of the people you most want to know on the scene. Today’s trender is Scott Holloway. Scott is a proud local artist who keeps himself busy around the country and around the world. He grew up in Bellingham, MA where he developed an appreciation of families that owned businesses in town. He has lived in Worcester for the past 16 years. “It's a great city that has a small town feel that I really love. Like the small town I grew up in, I can go just about anywhere and bump into people I know,” says Holloway. To learn more about Scott visit his site,Chec www.PaintingLoft.com

How has living in Central Mass played a role in your work?

As much as I love European Art History with a focus on the Northern Renaissance period, I am also inspired by my surroundings and our history. I've been visiting local graveyards and collecting the poetry (Memento Mori poetry) from the Colonial Period. Memento Mori means “remember you are mortal”. It is meant to be a lesson to live your life to it's fullest while you can.

Also, some of my local friends would model for me for my Hand Series. These hands have gone to galleries in Denmark, LA and San Francisco.

How did you get started on your career and how did it take off?

I can thank the social media site: MySpace for my start in 2006. I posted my work on Strychnin Gallery's page in Berlin and they contacted me for a show in NYC. After that I got several more shows with them in NYC, London, and Berlin, and I've been showing with them since. Because of them I've learned how things work with galleries and have met some really great artists that didn't mind giving some great advice. I've also been published in a book called "Art That Creeps" and even had one of my works turned into a surreal tea set for the show "Mad Potter Tea Party". Because of them, I have been showing all around ever since. That's why I believe in helping other artists. I'm just paying it forward.

What is on your agenda for the upcoming months?

I was just really busy with four shows due in the course of one month. (not a bad problem to have)

1) MF Gallery in NYC
2) Gristle Tattoo Gallery in NYC
3) Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco
4) 423 West Gallery in downtown LA

After I finished that I've been working on interviews. This will be my third interview in the past 3 weeks. I'll be in the next issue of "Boston Spectrum" Art Magazine and "Hey! Magazine" from France.

For the future, I have a “Curiosity Show” in Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco this August. I also have several works going into a brand new gallery for me, "The Broken Beauty of the Lines is Inevitably Lost in Translation" at WWA Gallery in Culver City CA, and another "Oultrepreu Mourning", very important show for me at 423 West Gallery in LA. That's all I have for now but things are always popping up.

Tell us about your store. How do you reach out to customers?

I am 100% web-based but occasionally do some work from word of mouth advertising. I get all the shows that I'm in from my Facebook page. I've shown in Salem, Boston, Maine, NYC, Detroit, Philadelphia, Utah, Tucson, Phoenix, Hollywood and down town LA, Anaheim, San Francisco, London, Denmark, Berlin, and Italy. I've had my paintings and drawings published in Art That Creeps (Berlin) La Luz 25 (Hollywood), Quadrant Fantasies (Denmark), Catapult ArtMag twice (Kentucky), Lexikon der phantastischen Kunstler (Austria), Monkey Sapian (Italy) ,Book of Skulls (England), Red Door Magazine (NYC), Boston Spectrum Magazine (Boston) and 20 Artists of Worcester. Soon to be coming; Churn Magazine (NYC) and Hey! Magazine (France).

Although I don't show often in the area, my best collector is a Worcester resident and business owner and he has been a great friend and patron. He has been patient with me as I have shows here and there and has waited patiently for several things that I work on between shows.

What are the challenges you face as an artist in Worcester?

I actually don't really sell in this area as much as would like to but I do get a lot of support from friends and fellow artists. It's a good community here and I've found that things like my prints and T-shirts sell here. I just need to get myself out there more and contact local businesses to maybe carry my products.