Today we’d like to introduce you to Tess Clark.
Hi Tess, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story begins in an enchanted forest surrounded by the pristine, humble waters of Michigan. It begins with the wisdom of the trees and the beauty of lush canopies I was raised among. It begins with earths collective consciousness that I’ve become a messenger of.
Across from an island on small inland lake resides my childhood home. I come from a family of wondrous artists and musicians who exposed me to creative practices since I was a baby. I always knew I would pursue art and that I would never stop expressing my inner world. Musing on nature, love, and the interconnectedness of the world is my purpose, as is bringing together community through these expressions.
I create immersive experiences by engaging ethereal yet earthly sensibilities across disciplines. Oil painting, video, installation, music, and performance are among my main mediums. In a world overtaken by artificial intelligence and disconnected spirituality, I am fueled by interspecies empathy. My mission is to unveil the magic of symbiotic relationships, awaken imaginative play, and embrace collective power.
It wasn’t until my third year of art school that I began painting dreamy landscapes and leaning into my unique style. I deeply connected with the ravines outside my studio space and expanded my studies in ecology and indigenous practices. In tandem, I developed my meditation and spiritual practices. Also during that time period I started writing and performing original music, pairing it with my visual art to create immersive experiences.
As I continued my studies, I went on to play music shows around Grand Rapids, often incorporating my visual art by performing with video projections, making unique merch, and selling prints. After graduating GVSU with a BFA in Visual Studies, I recorded my first album, Come the Moonlight. A year or so later I formed my band Tess Clark Trio.
Fall of 2025, shortly after my first solo exhibition post art school, traveling through shapes, I moved to New York City to pursue opportunities in art and music. I always dreamed of finding myself there at some point of my life. Although the concrete jungle provides challenges for a nature soul like me, it’s an exciting place to be for this temporary chapter of my life and career.
I am enormously grateful everyday for all the love and support from family and community that got me where I am today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Pursing a life and career as an artist is a challenging lifestyle. But also such a rewarding one. I am extremely fortunate to have grown up with a supportive family and community surrounding me and the pursuit of my artistic passions. Even so, doubt and insecurity have found their way into in my journey.
Being an artist is vulnerable. Both emotionally and financially. We express the most intimate and sacred parts of our existence for the whole world to see. Whether performing in front of a crowd or putting artwork on display, it is a vulnerable experience to share with the public eye. Judgement, shame, and criticism inevitably become a part of our lives. It has tested me, but I also find the vulnerability very beautiful and enriching to my practice. And to life in general, for anyone. It helps us evolve and understand ourselves and others in a special way.
Financial struggle and uncertainty has been one of the most difficult challenges for me, especially as I mature into my mid twenties. Many people my age have secured job stability at this point, but I am only beginning my journey as a self employed professional artist. Sometimes that comparison brings me down, but I would never change my circumstances. It is such a blessing to express myself and communicate with nature and the world through art. And in that way, I am rich.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Every living being, human and non human, who has woven in and out of my life and experiences deserves credit in my journey! The folks of the forest and lakes to the sparkly city personalities. Most of all, my family, friends, collaborators, and mentors along the way. Special thanks to my mom Wende and my dad Chris, my brother Olin, sister Emma, my lifelong best friend Sarah, and my partner Ray for their endless support and encouragement. <3
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Tessclarkofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessclarkk?utm_source=qr
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/56rQD6Vfdsxot9VCPeb4SN?si=ULPcKgmrS_uED85PMpDj5g
