Alumna Kirsten Brophy Wins Top Emerging Artist Award TULUM Art With Me
FIDM Fashion Design graduate, artist, and animal conservationist, Kirsten Brophy has just won Top Emerging International Artist Award for 2019 Art With Me *GNP - a $10K prize. Her exhibit titled “ONKA,” focused on the conservation and preservation of the Yucatan wildlife, more specifically the jaguar. The grad exhibited among international artists such as Keith Haring, KAWS, Wayne White, and more.
ART WITH ME *GNP is Tulum, Mexico’s first Eco-Culture Arts Festival, this in it’s second year, just concluded from April 24-28, 2019. The main feature of Kirsten’s exhibit was a large iconic jaguar sculpture, the first of a series, and 25% of the proceeds will go to her jaguar initiative. We caught up with her to find out more.
Tell us a little about yourself: I am a Canadian artist and nature guide specializing in Southern & East African wildlife. After completing my education in Fashion Design at FIDM in 2012, I began travelling extensively throughout Africa where I was exposed to its incredibly diverse ecosystems and cultural arts.
In my creative field, I work as both a designer & independent artist, having showcased my art in Toronto, Los Angeles, Cannes, Tulum, and at Art Basel (‘15, ‘16). I am the Creative Director of Music Against Animal Cruelty, and one of the founding members of The Nile Culture, which has showcased collaborations with international artists such as Roger Ballen, Oejerum, Jesse Draxler and Mahlimae, in support of rhino conservation.
Although formally trained in fashion design, my creative foundation has intrinsically evolved in parallel to my concerns with the natural world, its inherent ideology, structural aesthetics, and the effect it has upon all of its inhabitants.
Why did you choose FIDM? FIDM has a fantastic network of creative individuals and is a great launching pad for independent designers looking to build a foundation of both business and arts. I have always been more entrepreneurial in my business direction and knew that I wanted my education to be something that I was able to control and customize. FIDM’s intimate learning settings and hands on application of skills gave me this opportunity.
Any advice for international students? Be fearless when following through with your ideas. I always look to change the way people are thinking by exploring themes that are not easily accessed, and then work to make it relatable. In my experience, conservation can be considered a monotonous subject for those who are not interested in its science. Though, when interpreted through art this subject communicates to a completely different audience.
Also, utilizing the FIDM network and building contacts in your desired field of work is really important. I have kept in touch with many of the students I learned alongside, who are now established designers that I look to collaborate with in the future.
What is your biggest goal right now? I want to make it possible for my artwork to be built from 100% sustainable materials. I still struggle to source the sustainable materials I need at an affordable cost. Some replacements don’t even exist yet. It’s important to stay informed on new innovations and research the production of the materials you are using so you are fully aware of your impact, and accountable for it.
Categories: Fashion Design International
