Discover the 2022 NYC Spring Campaign

Our 2022 Spring campaign for the upcoming edition of the Affordable Art Fair NYC has just launched, featuring artist Hana Moore‘s whimsical piece, ‘Loop 101‘! Represented by Lustre Contemporary, Hana is an Abstract artist whose latest series features geometric, looping compositions that conjure a more restrained, yet still playful exploration of color and shape.

With the Spring edition just around the corner (March 23 – 27, 2022) we wanted to chat with Hana about the inspiration behind her Loopy series as well as Lustre Contemporary gallerist, and artist, Patrick Lajoie, on their journey throughout the arts! Read on to learn more about the campaign and be sure to book your tickets now to join us for our 20th anniversary celebration in New York!

INTERVIEW WITH HANA MOORE AND PATRICK LAJOIE

We’re so thrilled to have ‘Loop 101’ presented by Lustre Contemporary as the center of our Spring 2022 campaign in NYC! Patrick, how long have you worked together and how has your relationship transformed over the past few years?

PL: We’ve worked together for the last 5 years. Our relationship transformed quickly from a casual acquaintance within our local community to a professional one once I saw some of Hana’s artwork and decided to show it at the Affordable Art Fair. Since then we’ve shown her work at many editions of the fair. It always receives an enthusiastic response and we’ve happily been able to place many of her works, including some large commissions, with international collectors.

One of the key themes that runs throughout your work, Hana, is creating and revealing layers, can you tell us a little about the various techniques you employ when creating a piece?

HM: My work usually involves many initial layers of paint that are often transformed by a final overlaid layer in a contrasting composition that changes the original composition into something very different and unexpected by leaving only limited areas of the layers below showing through. I often use masking medium or cut vinyl to help me apply the overlays with precision. With other pieces I use things like sanding pads and paint scrapers to remove paint and reveal some of the colors below the surface. For the ‘Loopy’ pieces I do this in a more light handed way in order to subtly build up the depth of each color and also create a slightly distressed effect that softens the structured geometry of the composition.

What was the intention behind ‘Loop 101’? How do you hope viewers will feel when looking at this work?

HM: ‘Loop 101’ was one of the first works in the ‘Loopy’ series and was initially inspired by my earlier target or ringed works and the idea of sectioning them and playing with different ways the sections could fit together. This led me to this sort of loop shape and the series expanded from there. The Loopy works are more strictly geometric and structured than some of my other works but my hope is that people still feel a sense of fun and optimism from the playful shapes and joyful color palettes.

Can you both tell us a bit about your journeys to the arts?

HM: I always loved art even as a child but ended up spending the first two decades of my career in the design field (fashion and product). But eventually I ended up coming full circle back to what I really always wanted to do, which was to be an artist. About 10 -12 years ago, I started gradually pursuing art as a profession by submitting and showing my work at local and regional shows and haven’t looked back since.

PL: I studied fine art in college but took a while to get around to it as a career. When I finished school I couldn’t find work in the visual arts (I studied graphic design and painting) and I ended up becoming a woodworker and cabinetmaker. From there I gradually made my way back to the arts with my creative side pulling me first towards furniture and accessory design, then to fine art photography. This led me to meet a lot of other artists at regional shows, which in turn inspired me to start the gallery.

What does the Affordable Art Fair represent to you? Have you been able to grow and experiment at the fair?

HM: The fair represents a major stepping stone in my career as an artist by putting my work in front of an international audience and generating new opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Having my work shown alongside so many other talented artists has been a source of both pride and inspiration. It motivates me to keep growing as an artist and always strive to create the best work possible.

PL: The Affordable Art Fair to me represents a great opportunity to showcase work by some of the many talented fellow Canadian artists I know to an international audience and be able to place their work with enthusiastic collectors around the globe. It has also helped me grow as an artist myself by making me want to keep experimenting with my medium and find new ways to be creative with photography.

PL: The Affordable Art Fair to me represents a great opportunity to showcase work by some of the many talented fellow Canadian artists I know to an international audience and be able to place their work with enthusiastic collectors around the globe. It has also helped me grow as an artist myself by making me want to keep experimenting with my medium and find new ways to be creative with photography.

A big thank you to Hana Moore and Patrick Lajoie for taking part in our campaign! Be sure to snap up your advanced purchase tickets now to see more of Hana’s work presented by Lustre Contemporary at the Spring edition of the Affordable Art Fair NYC (March 23 – 27, 2022)!