Rising Stars: Meet Jaclyn Gordyan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Gordyan.

Hi Jaclyn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been drawn to art and organic material and textures my whole life.

Growing up, I spent hours daily in the woods. I’d bike to a trail and ditch my bike to wander off following riverbeds, identifying trees based on their bark, and collecting interesting nature bits to study at home. All this studying of small moments in nature made me notice things others didn’t. I became acutely aware of how Black Locust leaves are like confetti when they fall or how rain-soaked tree bark lights up the lichen growing on it.

Later, when choosing a career, I earned a BFA studying art, art history, painting, and design. I moved to Chicago because I wanted to experience life in a big city and deep-down thought cities are where artists lived and connected. It took me 10 years to realize this was not the case for me. City life caused my artist practice to shrink. I struggled to find studio space, so I ended up using alleys. And no offense to alleys, but they weren’t the most inspiring place for me. I craved nature.

So, I left.

And moved to Michigan.

Leaving behind a community I’d built for a decade was hard, but within days I felt my artist self growing. Making art felt possible again. I got to work exploring new mediums and continued my childhood practice of collecting ‘nature bits.’ I focused on what was creating a sense of wonder and awe in me. Following that feeling had always served me.

And then, one spring day, I decided to paint outside. As I was working, I noticed a piece of maple bark nearby. It was small and had some interesting qualities, so I added it to my canvas. And in that small moment, I felt electric. It felt like an explorer looking at an unseen terrain and realizing all of its potential.

I had unlocked all my years of cataloging nature to express how I see and experience. And I was doing it in a way I had never seen done before. And I’ve been making and selling work ever since.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Outside of the 10 years in Chicago working in makeshift alley studios, there were many years I joked that I was an artist who hadn’t found their medium. I felt like I was aimlessly wandering for 15 years learning any art mediums I could get my hands on.

Turns out all those years focusing on photography, ceramics, graphite, drawing, weavings, design, and more were informing my vision. My work uses many mediums and exploring  helped build what my art is capable of being and my instincts for what would work best in a piece.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m known for creating dimensional art using real, organic material.

My art has stopping power wherever it’s hung because it’s quite dimensional. It comes off the wall about 5″-7″ (sometimes more) and pulls you in from many angles. Collectors love that it has a wide viewing angle unlike flat artwork.

The ‘why’ behind my art is focused on expressing how I experience nature–as a grounding, calming force.

I see our connection to nature as ancestral. But we live in buildings, and nature stays outside. I have always found this to be unnatural and cold. Recently plants have made a massive resurgence in people’s spaces, and I think it’s partially because we were meant to be near nature. And my art allows you to bring real nature in, in an unexpected way.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve had so many big supporters. My husband, my parents, my peers and my artist mentors.

My husband has been incredible. As an example- he gave up his workshop for it to become my art studio. Who sacrifices like that? I have never felt more loved. He also travels with me on artist research and residencies and he helps me build my big canvas frames. My parents have also been big cheerleaders. They encouraged me when I was young to learn as much art as I could, and they tolerated my nature bit hoarding as a kid. And likely didn’t know it would have paid off like this!

Additionally, I have a few mentors who are full-time artists. They have been invaluable for guiding me in this career and pushing me to keep growing. Ty Nathan Clark and Megh Knappenberger, if you’re reading this, thank you!

Pricing:

• I sell originals, prints, and signed limited editions directly through my website (https://www.jaclyngordyan.com). I love when people come out for a studio tour to see them in person too!
• Originals start around $1200 and go up based on size and rarity of the material. These are the fully dimensional 1 of 1s, and there will never be another piece like it.
• Prints start at $30 and are available on wood, metal, or archival paper.
• Limited editions start at $85 and come signed and numbered.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaclyngordyan.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaclyn_gordyan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaclynGordyanArtist

Image Credits
Glenn Phenicie