MUNTHE ART MONDAY: 
HOLLY TERRY

Please introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.

Hello! My name is Holly Terry, I am a painter & visual artist based on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. I paint highly gestural & playful large-scale paintings that are often abstract, but sometimes slightly representational. I have two studios here in Australia, one at home for when I need some quiet time & also a shared space with lots of fun creatives. The life of a painter can sometimes be lonely, so this is space is so important to fill my cup and get out of my own head!

Holly is wearing our NANETTA T-SHIRT and LACUBU PANTS.

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

Too many to name! Artists that I know personally, Kate Florence & Rosie Woods are two huge inspirations for me (and dear friends who I shared a studio with for the first four years of my career). Other contemporary artists that I deeply admire would include Karen Black, Emma Fineman, Ines Longevial, Petra Schott and Bella Mcgoldrick. All of these women are absolute powerhouses; I love the way they share their work, processes and/or general life online - I feel like I know them and part of that is why I love their work so much (aside from their enormous talent).

Holly is wearing our NOLOCCA KNIT and LACUBU PANTS.

What would you like people to notice in your artwork?

I hope viewers notice playfulness, lightness, or sometimes even depth and darkness and can see how all things can exist at the same time. I love to poke fun at things, to create light in something that might be otherwise seen as a heavy weight. It took me a long time (and still learning) to acknowledge my own darkness and be able to sit within it - so hopefully my work helps people feel that and it’s duality with light & fun.

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

Honestly, I haven’t really given it that much focus. While my femininity is a superpower for sure, I believe my personality traits are the aspects that have affected my career the most. That said, I have a very strong personality and am not afraid to ask for what I want, which, often, I think women with these traits are perceived as a ‘difficult’, when a man in the same position potentially wouldn’t be.

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

Being able to step up and ask for what I want and deserve without feeling like I am ‘annoying’ or ‘difficult’ (even though I still do it). There are many aspects of being a woman in the arts which I am sure pose as challenges behind the scenes which I choose to ignore - I am sure I’m not taken as seriously! However, I do believe we all have challenges no matter who we are and what we do, whether they’re external or internal!