MUNTHE ART MONDAY: ANNE GRIFFITHS

Please introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.

Hi! It has been so nice to meet your team at Munthe. My name is Anne Griffiths. I am a Canadian artist living on the west coast of Canada, on Vancouver Island.

My primary practice as a painter focuses on my interactions with nature, which at times evolves as landscapes, but more often, as abstract interpretations of these experiences. Colour is the driving force of my work and it is how I begin each new painting.

The alchemy of mixing colour and the interplay of those hues on the surface material, gives me a starting point to explore and discover what each new painting will become. It is an exciting way to work because every day in the studio is a chance at a new direction and so I never get bored with the labour of studio life. My work is represented with galleries in Vancouver, Toronto and London, UK and I have also exhibited in group shows in Copenhagen, Berlin and Paris.

Anne is wearing the CALLIMA TOP and OBEY JEANS

Could you explain more about how being a woman has affected your career?

The obstacles put in front of women to reach success are many, but they can also be our super-power. My creative career began as an art director in an advertising agency in the 1980’s.

I was one of only two female art directors in Vancouver at that time and the rest of the creative team in the company were all men. It was a very corporate office, yet they were allowed to wear jeans and t-shirts, but as a female I was required to wear dresses or skirts, with nylons and heels.
it was so openly and unquestionably misogynistic and unfair, but I had no choice but to conform if I wanted to keep my job.

This early role inequality only made me fiercer and more determined to prove myself and my talents.

I refused to be seen as simply a token female to appease the human resources office. I worked twice as hard as the men to be seen as having value to the team. I came out of that world very determined, and striving to form my painting career on my terms.

What has been the most challenging aspect of being a woman in the arts?

The same early restrictions that affected my career as an Art Director have driven me similarly as I became a full-time painter. Upon entering into this world, I knew that it would take a lot of hard work and a consistently prolific output of high-quality paintings to receive recognition and acceptance.

The global art world still gives a lot of advantages to male artists, as their work is still generally perceived as superior with sales volume and values by female artists only a fraction of those by men. But that era does seem to be waning and I am seeing a lot more women breaking those boundaries - Mamma Andersson and Tracey Emin being two shining examples.

One personal observation I can now make; it has taken a lot of consideration to realign my own perceptions of myself and balance my painting career with my own expectations as a wife, mother and friend.

However, being driven, seeking success and giving myself the time required to produce the work I want to, means that there simply isn’t the time to pursue perfection in every instance.

I am fortunate to have a supportive family and group of friends who understand my drive and focus as an artist and I am getting better at giving myself the freedom to say no when I need to and dedicate myself to my work. I am now quite settled into this ‘art is life’ and I embrace the fact that it isn’t simply a job that I do, but a life that is defined by art.

Can you name some other female (artist) that inspires you and explain why they do so?

The female artists from the American Modern Expressionism movement have inspired me through their trailblazing independence and spirit of invention. Current female artists that have my attention are Julie Mehretu and Cecily Brown.They have built their careers producing mesmerizing work through an incredibly strong visual language and commitment to their artistic practices. They have gained worldwide recognition and remain true to their female perspective.

What would you like people to notice in your artwork?

There is softness and sensibility to a woman’s hand. If that makes the work approachable, and the viewers respond by then seeking to find their own connections with nature, then I will feel that I have achieved something worthwhile with my work.

Anne is wearing the CALLIMA TOP and OBEY JEANS