Hannah Polskin is the ace of shapes. Whether it be her soothing diptychs and triptychs or amorphous art mirrors, the L.A.-based artist plays with abstract forms that imbue her work with a palpable tranquility. Equally as comfortable with a power tool as a paint brush, a diverse material palette and monochromatic tones are the cornerstones of her site-specific livable objects, each one conceived for a specific room in someone's home. Perhaps most striking is her work's intangible ability to fill space with good energy, which might explain its most popular function: selfie backdrop.
Hannah Polskin is the ace of shapes. Whether it be her soothing diptychs and triptychs or amorphous art mirrors, the L.A.-based artist plays with abstract forms that imbue her work with a palpable tranquility. Equally as comfortable with a power tool as a paint brush, a diverse material palette and monochromatic tones are the cornerstones of her site-specific livable objects, each one conceived for a specific room in someone's home. Perhaps most striking is her work's intangible ability to fill space with good energy, which might explain its most popular function: selfie backdrop.
Describe what you make: This question can sometimes feel impossible to answer since I don’t like limiting myself to one object or series. While I use neutral colors and abstract shapes across everything I make, my art stretches across many different mediums. Conceptually, what I’m really making are functional and “livable” objects—a term a collector recently used to describe my work—with the goal of taking over your whole home. That includes paintings, sculptures, mirrors, furniture, kitchen islands, rugs, and more.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: Probably my Art Mirrors, especially because it was the first time the shapes I was painting evolved into a three-dimensional object. Since then, I’ve been exploring how my aesthetic can inform other areas of decor. This has also opened up a whole new material world for me outside of the wood, including a range of mirrors in brass and other metals, which I’m hoping to launch very soon.
Describe the problem your work solves: Based on the feedback I hear from my collectors, the people who buy and own my work are looking for a specific energy in their homes. Creating this energy becomes an important part of my creative process. My approach is very-site specific and responsive to the functionality of different areas of the space.
Describe the project you’re working on now: I’ve always loved working with wood and have recently become more familiar with burl. As a canvas, the grain and knots in it have a really dynamic effect on the shapes I paint. I just updated my website to include different burl options so collectors can pick and choose.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: Ahead of the holidays,I’ll be releasing a limited collection of Baby Burls—8×10 abstracts on burl wood from all different types of trees around the world—on the NTWRK app on November 17 at 2PT. The way I paint each one will be unique to the individual knots and grains of the wood, and I’m exposing certain areas to really showcase the beauty of the natural material.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: For me, it’s not so much about what’s in my studio. What’s important to me is that my studio is in my home, so I am immersing myself in the project. So much of my work comes from what I personally want to live with at home. When I sense a gap or something missing in a space, I keep painting or carving until I find the perfect piece to fill it. The relationship between a piece of art and the context is key for me. You don’t know how impactful a piece can be until you’ve seen it in its intended context.
What you do when you’re not working: You can find me scouring flea markets and hardware stores or enjoying the ocean.
Sources of creative envy (dead or alive): Jean Arp, Alex Proba, Daniel Arsham, Campana Brothers, Gisela Colon, Philip Guston.
The distraction you want to eliminate: I spend way too much time cleaning my paintbrushes.
Concrete or marble? It completely depends on the project. Although, I may or may not have plans to start using marble regularly in some of my upcoming works!
High-rise or townhouse? High-rise. I love the sky.
Remember or forget? Forget
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens
Dark or light? Dark; it’s so much easier to paint and work when everyone is sleeping. I’m a nocturnal worker.
