Today we’d like to introduce you to Loren Burkey.
Hi Loren, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a second-generation artist. My father studied under Norman Rockwell and painted Genre scenes of the Amish during the late seventies and eighties. My life’s artistic journey began by drawing, painting, and modeling as a very young child in his studio. After showing a keen interest in my father’s artwork, at the age of 5, I was introduced to abstract form and concept while enrolled in a children’s art class at Wooster College. During that time, I remember being excited by the contrasting nature between the vast experiences that the artworld had to offer. I began to understand the visual language from illustrations that I would try to recreate through drawing, the Genre scenes that my father painted, and the abstract works of the great modern artists.
My mounting interest in the Fine Arts continued throughout my school years as I was placed in gifted and talented classes. After secondary school, I earned an undergraduate degree in Fine Art, then a Master’s degree from the University of Toledo. During that time, I was exposed to digital media, classical drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture techniques. This experience, coupled with the access to a world-class museum attached to my art school, allowed me to gain a unique understanding of imitationalism, which complimented my love for formalist ideas and practices. The juxtaposition between my experience with imitationalism and formalism has fueled my passion for creation to this day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would consider myself an A-typical artist. Along with my interest in the arts, I have always participated in athletics. I enjoyed playing Football, Wrestling, Track, and Swimming through my high school experience. Settling on an athletic scholarship to play Football at the University of Toledo. Upon graduation with an undergrad in Fine Arts, I spent two years coaching at UT and earning my Master’s degree.
The juxtaposition between my path in the arts and my path in athletics lead to many conflicting avenues to place my energies on.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
The main body of work that I have produced is mixed media pieces. My canvases are handmade out of wood, with acrylic media and fabrics. I aim do produce works that bring a “calm presence” to the spaces that they occupy. I also work in 3D to create mixed media sculpture and am producing a series of surreal works that combine motion graphics with traditional acrylic works that have 3D prints incorporated into the canvas’s surface.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I hope to continue selling works in person at shows but will eventually seek full representation at galleries. My ultimate goal is to produce a body of work that is housed in museums.
Contact Info:
- Website: lorenburkey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loren_burkey_arts/
- Youtube: @lorenburkeyarts
