Art on the rise: Alyson Fox

Artist/Designer

Texas native Alyson Fox is a 30-year-old artist of many talents that I came across a while ago in Rare, but more recently looked more into, and I've gotta say, I am really into her style. Her work is great, inspiring, and definitely worth checking out. She's been featured in big publications / websites like Daily Candy, Nylon and Lucky. Now, she even let me ask her a few questions for this little blog.

I was shocked that she is just hanging around somewhere in Austin, taking pictures, making art, clothing, exercising that creative brain. At the moment she is working on new necklaces for her line, "A Small Collection," photography, and some sculptures. Her book of photos is being published by Chronicle Books early next year, so keep on the look out for it!

First, be sure to check out her work Thursday night from 6-8 PM at SPARTAN, off S. Lamar, where she will be showing limited editions of her work, as well as perfume from the line YOSH.

In only a couple of sentences, what inspires you?

So many things: clothes, music, films, short stories, food, architecture, furniture, old photographs, museums, thrift stores. I usually see something out and about that sparks an idea, and I run with it. It's never a super clear idea but working through the process of an idea is what I like to explore and build on.

When did you first start being interested in art, and when did you first start creating it?

I was actually a nutrition major before taking my first art class at the end of my sophomore year in college, then I switched over to Art right away, concentrating in photography. From there, I went to grad school to get my MFA mostly doing sculptures and drawings. My mom says that I was drawing at a very young age with her makeup in my closet and behind curtains. I remember always drawing as a kid (houses and birds a lot) but it was not until college that I got serious about it.

It seems like you are a jack of all trades -- artist, fashion designer, decor... why do you create in multiple mediums?

Because it feels right. I would be bored focusing on one thing. All of these things play off each other for me and inform me in different ways. At the end of the day, it's still making things. Sometimes it's successful and sometimes it's not at all.

What is your favorite music to listen to as you work (or don't work)?

I oftentimes don't listen to music when I work on certain things (starting a drawing, I like it quiet) but when I do, it's a lot of different things in our music library: Bon Iver, Andrew Bird, Ezra furman and The Harpoons, the xx, Anthony and the Johnstons, Feist, Bruce Springsteen.

Who is your favorite artist right now?

Too hard to say. Miranda July is definitely at the top of my list. She is incredibly witty and smart.

And favorite fashion designer?

Again too hard to say. I love Rachel Comey and Mociun for prints, Seneca Rising for easy-to-wear items that are really cute, Wood Wood for their fun details and sculptural pieces....to name a few. I heart my thrift finds more than anything though.

One word that you believe can summarize your outlook on life:

curious but determined is right there with it!

All work and designs by Alyson Fox

Don't forget, you can meet Fox at SPARTAN Thursday night at Spartan!