Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Guilfoile
Hi Haley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been an artist my whole life- I started selling stuff I made to folks when I was 3.5 years old. I’d like to think my craftsmanship has improved slightly since then.
I studied a variety of mediums at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I was very drawn to digital illustration and interactive illustration at the time- and avoided painting like the plague. I had most of my painting class requirements waived, in fact, stating to my department head Chuck Pyle that “I will NEVER be a painter”. Sorry, Chuck, I made myself a liar!
Having the opportunity to do my first mural in San Francisco in March 2015 was a tipping point for me- seeing my work at such a grand scale gave me a satisfaction that wasn’t quenched again until I had the opportunity to do my next mural in 2018. I completed 5 murals that year and eventually ran out of walls to paint in my own apartment, leading me to turn to canvas finally in 2019.
Since then, I’d estimate I’ve produced a total of over 250 unique paintings. I tend to be quite prolific- I’ll paint as much as time allows, which is never enough for my liking. I’ve currently got 3 works in progress in my living room, which is not uncommon. Bless my super supportive partner Michael and my daughter Clementine for putting up with my constant creative mess.
I’ve had opportunities to collaborate with the Dallas Mavericks, Jeremiah’s Ice, Downtown Dallas Inc., Deep Ellum Art Co., I’ve done custom work for New Found Glory, Blueprint University, I’ve done a handful of solo exhibitions.. it’s honestly been a whirlwind.
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 feel the successes and failures come in waves for me. I had a week and a half period this summer when I had three separate opportunities that I was so excited for each fall apart one by one, almost entirely due to budget changes.. and I had a two week period just a month ago when four of the most exciting opportunities I’ve ever had each fell into place all at once. A friend of mine is going through a rough “wave” right now- I don’t know that I’m the most qualified to be giving survival advice, but like I told her, you just have to ride out the s***storm. The wave of goodness waiting on the other side will be so worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have to preface this by saying- I’m not a big fan of labels. I’ll happily wear the labels of “fine artist” and “muralist” – but I have a hard time with the label I’ve had to embrace of “pop artist”.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “pop art” as follows: ‘a style of art, developed in the 1960s, that was based on popular culture and used material such as advertisements, movie images, etc.’
While I have produced a total of six pieces that contain real /existing sports figures/characters/musicians to date, that’s less than 3% of the paintings and murals I have created since 2015. If just <3% of my body of work contains popular culture references, then how do I qualify as a “pop artist”? My unique style doesn’t conform with much of what we see amongst contemporary artists today- it’s a niche that, visually, reads “pop art”- therefore I’ve found folks tend to categorize me as such.
Perhaps I get overly technical on the subject. I just feel, if a label is assigned, should it not be a proper one? I’m not sure there is yet a fully accurate-yet-niche-enough label for the kind of work I produce.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I have a few ways I want to answer this.. but one thing I do feel is important to say is that my perspective on risk changed when I became a mother.
I think, prior to having my daughter Clementine, I didn’t think much about risk when it came to my career in particular. I was happy in my teensy rent controlled studio apartment a block from Union Square in San Francisco with my mattress on the floor, so I could take risks, just as long as I could maintain that minimal lifestyle for myself.
Becoming a mother, I wanted to provide for my daughter what my parents provided for me. I was privileged to grow up with a roof over my head, food on my plate, attending highly rated schools, getting to participate in extra curricular activities as I pleased. My city lifestyle went out the window- and so did my willingness to take risks financially.
In an interesting way, it’s been a blessing that I’m so financially careful and thoughtful. Whether or not it’s ideal or realistic for most artists, in order to make money off of your artwork, you do have to be a businessperson/salesperson in addition to a creative. I do believe these are areas I continue to excel at. I value my time highly, as well as the art I produce with that limited time- so I’ve had success even in down markets.
I do take “risks”, if we want to call them that, with my art in the sense that I don’t pander. There’s absolutely no shame in the game of making art that one knows will sell- I applaud the efforts of artists who support themselves by doing this. However, my personal approach is to create whatever I want. If it sells, it sells. And fortunately, often I find that the personal stories I tell through my work resonate on a unique and completely different level with others, and tend to find new homes with collectors who see their own story in my work. I think that’s a pretty cool reward in exchange for the risk of creating what I feel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovenotestudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovenotestudios
Image Credits
The first photo (the personal photo) was taken by Vladislav Levine.
The remaining photos were taken by myself.
