Jade Alexis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jade, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Be BOLD! Throughout my creative practice I have always been hesitant to fully let go and let the work be what it needs to be, and to say what I want to say.
As I look back on my works from years ago I see a common thread to what I am making now, but it is very reserved, and in turn mutes how the artwork presents. I have very strong opinions and ideas inside my head that I want to share through my art, and no one is going to understand that message unless I make it extremely clear!
I decided that I needed to begin using strong and direct language when I incorporate text, as well as adding deeper emotional expression to my sculptures. The pieces that have had the most attitude, the most angsty things to say, the pieces I have been the most nervous to reveal, have been the works that receive the best responses. I think when people see someone being daring, bold, or outspoken it inspires them to let those qualities shine within themselves. I know I look for this when I am observing what others create, and that is what I am hoping my ceramic charms and sculptures do for those who appreciate what I do. Creating wearable art has been helpful in my growth as the themes in my work are so personal; wearing the piece supports its context and carries the message more significantly while also giving the wearer some confidence and power due to the shameless and self-assured nature that the charms themselves carry.
2025 is the year I began pushing the limits farther and gave myself permission to create works that are unapologetically me. It feels good to be bold, to plant your feet on the ground and say, “Hey world, I am here!”.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a mixed media artist, but I work primarily in ceramics, although I don’t make many pots! While I do make the occasional mug or jar, I prefer to sculpt. My sculptures typically take on the form of a hissing cat or a rabbit in contemplation, but I am always exploring new characters in my work as my life experience and inspiration evolves.
I create tons of sculptural charms which I paint almost exclusively in a minimalist color palette of cobalt blue and white. I do this to reference the beauty of classical Delftware while creating a personal narrative with a wide variety of language and imagery. The charms are my favorite thing to make at the moment because I never go into them with a plan, they are totally in the moment and one of a kind. A plus to them being miniature, besides being super adorable is that they can be worn in so many different fashions! I have seen folks wear them as charm necklaces, earrings, on zippers, and as keychains! It’s so awesome to see people being creative with how they appreciate my work.
Outside of the studio you can find me at the park drawing, deep into a good book, or at home listening to my records with a hot cup of coffee!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest moment of feeling powerful as an artist has to be when I stumbled upon Keith Haring in middle school. Keith Haring is a huge inspiration for me. Although we have different art styles, Keith had values of accessible, in the moment, “this is how I’m feeling right now” sort of art. The value of his art is not by the hours he took conceptualizing it, or how expensive it is, but more so his documentation of being human though his lens. Keith felt that it was really important to live life by being bold, spreading love, and leading a life that you feel is right. His work is accessible to all walks of life, and has no limitations. I always think of him when I need a creative boost; thank you Keith!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I think every creative has a moment of doubt at some point or another. Up until a few years ago, I struggled finding an audience that would respond to my work. I would attend markets and try to sell my work and sell absolutely nothing time after time. It was super discouraging, but I really had to take time to stop and reevaluate how I approached selling my work. Instead of country clubs and breweries, I shifted to more creativity focused venues like tattoo shops and local music venues and got a much better response! I have begun to find the right settings for my work and it is more validating than anything to get someone to want to have a conversation about or even purchase a piece of mine and take it home with them. That sort of validation creates energy in me to continue to work hard and push boundaries in my process.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies I have heard within my industry is that you must sell your artwork at a fixed profit percentage plus an hourly rate in order to properly price your work. I think that if you have the desire to sell your work at that rate, that you should. My issue is that I have heard many artists argue that it is underselling yourself, your work, and the art market as a whole if you decide to sell for less. There are so many reasons why someone may want to sell below that specific formula, and that’s their business! No one should feel ashamed or that they are underselling and causing disruption for charging what they feel is appropriate for their work. Art is about doing what you want, price tag included!
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am having a meal with a loved one. I really find solace in conversation with someone I really trust. We can discuss life’s struggles, laugh about them, and feel not so alone in this wild world. Food just makes the moments more memorable! I have so much fun trying new dishes and then discussing our thoughts on it, grounding one another, and nourishing our souls.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @pretty.wretched
