An exclusive chat with female artists from the Pink Wave art exhibition.
Balancing life as artists, mothers, spouses, and creatives is an art in and of itself. Last week we got an inside look at what it is like juggling life and high-profile clientele from the perspective of five local female artists. Hosted by Gaby Viteri and Sarah LaPierre of First Female and Pink Waves, we shared an evening of art and conversation with artists Hayley Sheldon, Amanda Perna, Devin Noel, Tracy Guiteau, and Sarah E. Huang, moderated by Tiffany Lanier. Check out each artist and host linked here!
Each female artist on this multidisciplinary panel specializes in their own medium and creative style. They each took their own unique path to get where they are today, but one thing unites them all, they are female artists. During the chat we got to hear firsthand accounts of what it is like being women in the art world, challenges they faced, and how they have continued to grow and master their individual skillsets.
Let’s meet the artists!
Hayley Sheldon
Hayley specializes in woven, fiber-based art. She is a multifaceted installation artist and sculptor whose work blends contemporary and minimalist art. Her current work is made by sewing directly into wood frames using the fibers to create a translucent color field effect. Hayley’s clients, exhibitors, and publications include— Google, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Kimpton Hotels, Apartment Therapy, Luxe Interiors and Design, and Urban Outfitters. In addition to being an artist, Hayley also carries the title of mother to her two children.
Tiffany Lanier, Moderator: What challenges did you have to overcome to fully step into your role as an artist?
Hayley answers this question beautifully with two parts.
Hayley Sheldon: Today, one of the biggest inner conflicts I have is that there is so much heaviness in the world right now and when I put my work out there to share and complete the cycle of the piece it feels trite and almost like “what’s the point with everything going on?” The way I get past these feelings is to remind myself that the good of humanity and the beauty of humanity is the fact that we get to make these pieces and share our stories through art and creativity.
But before the current struggles, after graduation, I worked for Anthropologie in Philadelphia for almost 10 years. It was great and I felt motivated with the fast-paced environment. It was also a steady paycheck with benefits and a 401k. I was so grateful to be able to make things for a living that I got comfortable in that role. But after being there for so long, having kids, and slowing down, I realized I no longer had a personal studio practice for myself. It felt selfish to be thinking about my artistic needs and what I wanted to make, but I took the time to deep dive into myself. I used what business skills I learned while at Anthropologie and combined that with freelancing to fine tune the art I truly love and turn it into the business it is today.
These firsthand stories shared by Hayley show what it’s like to struggle with internal conflict while still satisfying the artistic need to create. She continues to push forward and pursue her work as an artist while balancing life’s challenges.
Amanda Perna
Amanda is a well-known fashion designer and founder of The House of Perna. While her original path was psychology, she always loved dressing up as a child and eventually fell in love with fashion during an elective sewing class. She then went on to design school at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Amanda honed her craft while designing for major fashion brands including Oscar de la Renta and Calvin Klein in New York City. She has also appeared in two seasons of Project Runway, which led to her work being internationally recognized. Her partnerships and collaborations have included brands such as Anthropologie, Neiman Marcus, BHLDN and FabFitFun. Her designs have been sold internationally to high end retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and more! Amanda is also a proud mom to Stella, her seven-year-old daughter. Stella supported her mom from the front row of the panel discussion wearing an exquisite, handcrafted Amanda Perna piece. During the panel discussion, we got to hear how Amanda balances being a fashion designer, business owner, and mother.
Tiffany Lanier, Moderator: Being artists, mothers, and women requires integrating all our essences. Have you found a rhythm for being both a mom and an artist?
Amanda Perna: I found a way to bring Stella into the mix. I refused to give up my business that I had worked so hard on. People suggested getting a nanny, but I wanted her to come with me because I wanted it all. I am lucky to have a team of women in my workplace who were able to help me with Stella because it really does take a village. Still to this day, Stella is in my equation. I build Stella-time into my day. My nonnegotiable is that if Stella can’t come with me and attend something with me, then I can’t come. It’s hard, but I knew I wanted to be with my daughter and find a way to intertwine those two parts of my life.
Amanda’s account of balancing motherhood as a fashion designer and business owner is a perfect example of what’s required of women who want the best of both worlds. While the specifics look different for every mother, boundaries and nonnegotiables are key to maintaining a harmonious blend.
Devin Noel
Devin’s love for art began at a young age. She recalls growing up in an artistic household, painting, and crafting with her mom in Illinois. Devin shared an early memory of her mom having a muralist come paint her childhood room and how that stuck with her throughout her life. Even with the early influence of art, Devin found herself in the life of being an athlete and became an accomplished rugby player. After her athletic career, she felt a shift and wanted to become an EMT and/or firefighter. It was at this point her husband stepped in and helped her rekindle her ultimate love for art. Because her passion for art never fully dissolved and was evident to those around her, she eventually found a way to weave together her artistic ability and full body movement by becoming a muralist. She specializes in oil and acrylic murals that feature bold patterns and botanical designs. She has worked with clients such as Costa, Pumphouse, Candid Coffee Co., and Mabley Handler Home & Design.
Tiffany Lanier, Moderator: What challenges did you have to overcome to fully step into your role as an artist?
Devin Noel: I really felt like I have to do this, but how am I going to do this? I felt that challenge of building a successful business on top of nurturing the artist within me. There was this mystery of figuring out how to live in an immersive and aesthetic environment and so that’s where the mural part came into the mix. These thoughts helped me to see that a canvas was constricting. I was inspired by wallpaper and textiles, so I realized I wanted the whole room and not just one part of it.
Devin’s summary on becoming an artist really hit home.
Devin Noel: I always felt like there were so many different parts of me, but everything was so conflicting. Once I connected everything back to art it was like oh, agricultural science that I studied for years can be art, traveling can be art, and if I want to physically exert myself, I can drive a boom lift 30 feet in the air and paint a mural. Once I said that I am an artist, once I accepted those words, I am an artist, everything that I loved had a purpose. I already loved all of these things and now these important parts of me can be explored further.
Devin’s path to where she is today is filled with twists and turns. Yet through it all she held on to her connection with art and made it her own. It’s inspiring to see what can happen when you let yourself follow a dream or a calling.
Tracy Guiteau
Born to traditional Haitian parents in New York, Tracy is a gifted artist with experience in a variety of mediums. Early on, she faced the challenge of reconciling her artistic calling with her parents’ expectations of pursuing a career in nursing. She eventually listened to the whisper and immersed herself in the world of fashion design and fine art. Tracy’s exceptional style and artistic vision led her to collaborate with renowned figures such as top tennis player Naomi Osaka and the digital media company founded by iconic athlete LeBron James during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Additionally, Disney recognized Tracy’s exceptional artistic prowess and selected her to be a part of a special art exhibition in conjunction with the launch of the Black Panther sequel film, “Wakanda Forever.” Aside from her art career, Tracy is also a mother to two children and has spent the last four years learning to balance motherhood with her life as an artist.
Tiffany Lanier, Moderator: What are some challenges you face being a female artist?
Tracy Guiteau: One incident was that I had to fight for a solo show. So, they saw my work, but they thought I was a man… you know, with the name Tracy. They took me in but when I had the meeting they were like “Uh, we actually have another artist, a male artist from Miami.” I felt like I constantly had to fight for things. At the end of the day, it all came down to mindset. If it’s not for me, I know something else will come along, something that’s even better. I had to learn to fight off distractions and regain my focus.
Tracy’s take on challenges can apply to so many facets of life. Her ability to adapt and overcome is a great lesson for anyone who feels overwhelmed by obstacles.
Sarah E. Huang
Sarah is a Taiwanese American multidisciplinary artist and arts educator based in Delray Beach, Florida. Art has always been a part of Sarah’s life but, just like so many others, she too faced doubts about what a career in art would look like as a profession. Nonetheless, over time she persevered and found, through a figure drawing class in college, that she could make the switch to art as her career. Sarah’s work has been showcased at The Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Coral Springs Museum of Art, Arts Garage, The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Arts Warehouse, Boca Raton Museum of Art, and more.
Tiffany Lanier, Moderator: How did becoming an artist change you?
Sarah E. Huang: I feel like for a long time I was watching my life happen, but from behind the scenes. I wasn’t keyed into my innermost desires, but there was always this whisper and invisible guiding force. Over time, my confidence was built up and I felt like I had some power. Becoming an artist has transformed me to where I now feel like I am in the driver’s seat of my life. I am not just looking from behind the scenes anymore. The more that I opened myself up to opportunity and manifesting this life for myself I saw I was finally becoming the artist I was always meant to be.
We see from Sarah how passion and determination can make all the difference. It’s normal to be unsure or feel out of place as you’re finding your true self. Start taking small actions and steps toward your dream and use these opportunities to grow and evolve. Sarah shows us it’s possible to become who and what you want to be just by never giving up and always listening to the whisper.
Pink Waves Art for a Cause
Each artist showcased on this panel has work on display at the Pink Waves exhibition. A portion of the proceeds from the Pink Waves show will be donated to the Promise Fund of Florida®. Promise Fund of Florida® is a nonprofit that works to address health disparities to ensure that all women have access to timely and quality breast and cervical cancer resources and treatment. In this special chat with the artists, we got to hear how women’s health has affected and inspired these talented women to contribute to the cause. They unite their artistic skills, passion, and influence to make a positive impact on women in our community. Pink Waves is truly a beautiful combination of compassion and creativity on display. Art for purchase from the show is linked here.
