Meet A.L. Lummus | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with A.L. Lummus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi A.L., what do you attribute your success to?
I know that when someone buys a piece of art, whether that be a magnet, a button, or a wall sized piece, they are buying a small piece of me. My vision, my heart, and my strength goes into everything that I create. Therefore, with every creation, I need to instill a sense of cohesion and professionality. Nothing can be sloppy, nothing can be half hearted. It needs to be as close to perfect as possible. Image theft is extremely simple in our current culture, so treating every purchasing client with the utmost respect and gratitude is paramount to my business. Creating an atmosphere of professionality, consistency, and attention is what maintains my clients and keeps them coming to every show, reading every article and listening to every interview.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My current exhibit, Mettle Martyr, is a sardonic celebration of American femininity. One can point out thousands of statistics and facts that indicate the consistent sidelining of the American woman, but it is difficult to do it with humor, and to do it alongside an images that correlate. The viewer will see upon entering the gallery, a large scale installation, handmade sculptural frames, a film, several garments, and, or course, merchandise. All of these parts were a considerable undertaking in and of themselves, but to put all the moving parts together felt like a remarkable achievement. I have never been more proud of a group of works than I am this show. I had assistance in every corner from friends and family. Whether it was fabricating an installation with four flat screens and a disco ball, or creating misogynistic poodle skirts, I had no shortage of amazing humans to assist me in my vision. In my research for this show, and my journey into creating the tw0 dimensional pieces, I have learned more about what I innately knew. Women in American culture have miles to go before we reach gender parity. Experts estimate close to 108 years. To bring the understanding of how far we are from that, one needs to understand some disturbing facts, such as women in America are more likely to be beaten, stabbed or burned by a dating partner in their lifetime than to receive flowers on Valentine’s Day. These are facts that I refuse to ignore. If I am not making art to rectify this immense injustice to half of our nation, then I am not doing my job.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would, of course, take any guest to see my show, Mettle Martyr, at BitFactory Gallery! http://bitfactory.net/ I would certainly take them to a First Friday on Santa Fe. First Friday’s in Denver are so well attended and there are food trucks, musicians, and poets lining the streets. It is truly an exciting event. As COVID restrictions are loosening, First Fridays are rapidly becoming popular again. https://denversartdistrict.org/first-friday I would absolutely take a guest to Red Rocks to get our steps in! https://www.redrocksonline.com/ Art A hotel has beautiful views and is a fun place to stay. https://www.thearthotel.com/ 9th Door is a must. 9th door has been a fixture in Denver for over a decade for good reason. The food is incredible, the staff is committed and the cuisine is phenomenal. It never disappoints. http://9thdoorcapitolhill.com/ Barr Lake is about 30 minutes outside the city and is the most incredible place. It is a wildlife sanctuary. I see everything from Bald Eagles to wild deer to Bull Snakes when hiking there. https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/barrlake I can never eat enough empanadas, so Maria Empanada is a must-stop. https://www.mariaempanada.com/ Uno Mas Taqueria is my favorite taco spot ever. You can find me there after a long week regularly. It would be amiss to deprive any soul of their incredible bites. https://unomastaqueria.com/

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother is the driving force behind everything I do. She is the one who told me that can’t is unacceptable and that smart people are never bored. To this day, she challenges me to operate on the highest level, physically, mentally and spiritually. My curator, Bill Thomason, took me on when his gallery was young and so was my vision. He encourages my boldest visions and always keeps my eyes looking forward. Without him, I would be in a very different place in my career and my life. My former teacher, Gina Blickenstaff deserves immense credit for showing me that softness is so very beautiful. And, the people most responsible for any success I have had are those in my family. My partner Luke is an extraordinary artist himself, and always holds me to the highest possible standards. He is my biggest fan, my most ardent supporter, and my lifeline when this business takes its toll. I could not do this without him. My children will always be a driving force as well. I want to show them how women can change the art world.

Website: https://www.amyleelummus.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alummusart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyLeeLummus/

Image Credits
David Eichler