Today on Clay in Color, we chat with Alake Shilling. She creates fantastical clay sculptures and paintings of cute animals that reflect the emotional diversity of humanity. In our interview, we talk about having the courage to be an artist and empowering ourselves and others to be our truest selves despite pressure from systems of oppression, including those in the art world. We also discuss the aesthetics of childhood and the major role they play in Shilling’s worldview, and how she challenges the rejection of color and comfort in adulthood. Furthermore, she tells us about her desire to make her work accessible and relatable and the surprising responses she receives about her work.

 

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