Meet Anna Dean | Contemporary Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Dean and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, how do you think about risk?
One of my favorite quotes is by Goethe, “At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you.” I believe that to be true. When you visualize what you want, and put all your energy into that goal, somehow the universe realigns itself to support you on your new journey.

Early in my career, I was not so much of a risk taker. I chose the path of Arts Education rather than Fine Arts because I felt like it was a safer career choice – I was guaranteed a weekly paycheck, benefits, etc. But, at some point, I began to realize that the public education system was not investing in me. I was just a cog in a big machine, and public education wants standardization – they do not want someone who stands out. So, I began to wonder… “What would happen if I took just a small amount of the energy that I am putting into my classroom, and I reinvested it in myself?”

In 2017, I took a huge leap of faith and I left the classroom, and went back to school full-time to pursue my MFA. It was a completely impractical decision, but one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Going back to school, during the day with 20-somethings, when I was in my mid 40’s was intimidating, humbling, and exhilarating!

Graduating with my MFA, and pursuing a career in Fine Art is about the riskiest decision I could have made. There’s no blueprint to follow, so every day you are treading fresh snow… forging a new path that only you can follow. It has been hugely rewarding because this path is my own, and I have the unique opportunity to create a career for myself that allows me to be my truest, most authentic self. I know there are easier ways to make money, but this is the best way I have found to truly make a life for myself that I am proud of and excited about.

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.
I have never fit nicely into any one box. I am not just a painter, or a sculptor, or a videographer. I’m honestly more of a tinkerer or a mad scientist – and what sets me apart from other artists is that I invite people into the experiments with me, so that they can also find their own discoveries.

I make multi-sensory interdisciplinary art – work that is immersive, that invites the viewer into the experience through all of their senses. I use non-traditional art materials. For example, I have a show up now at the Cain Center for the Arts, which features a fountain of recirculating milk that sits in a six foot pile of crushed coal. Using non-traditional materials allows people to bring their own associations of these materials into the experience of reading the work.

I never want people to feel like they have to stand back and look at my art from a distance. I am much more interested in the discussions that happen when they feel like their body is completely immersed in the work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I currently work in Charlotte, NC and I live just outside the city. Charlotte is a cool place, with great people and an evolving art scene. One of the best things about this area is the climate – it’s lovely to be outdoors here at any time of year. My family loves visiting the National Whitewater Center. They have bike and running trails, kayaking and rafting on natural or manmade rivers, and they also have great music and food. It’s a fun place to spend a day. We also love kayaking down the Catawba River. In May, you can paddle among the spider lilies in Lansford Canal. It’s one of the few places on earth where these beautiful rare flowers bloom.

After you finish exploring the outdoors, you definitely need to check out Charlotte’s brewery scene. We have lots of great beers here, and while you are at it, you can check out some art! Resident Culture in Plaza Midwood has lots of super funky art inside. You can also check out Free Range brewing in Camp North End, which is right next door to Goodyear Arts – a nonprofit studio space with lots of interesting experimental art exhibits.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe most of my success to my teachers – and one who had a huge impact on me was my MFA professor, Shaun Cassidy. Shaun helped me pivot. Prior to grad school, most of my work was figurative, even hyper realistic. One day, during one of our discussions, he asked “if you can see the end result so clearly in your mind, why do you even need to make it?”

That was like a gut-punch. It really made me think about my entire artistic process… why did I have this need for control? Would it not be more beneficial to view my studio practice as an experiment – as a way to find meaning through the process? This completely changed the way I work. Now, when I go to the studio, rather than going in with a picture in my mind, I go into the studio with a question. And my studio process is just a way of exploring that question. I rarely leave with answers, but rather with more questions – which lead me to the next work of art. This sense of curiosity and wonder are at the heart of what I do, and that is what brings me back into the studio each day.

Website: www.annadeanart.com

Instagram: @annadeanart

Image Credits
I took all photos