Mia Risberg: Place & Memory
After spending her childhood traveling throughout Europe, Mia Risberg recalls these experiences and their impact on her present day art practice. Recurring themes in Mia’s work are: place, memory, and the relationship between humans and the natural world. From working in the realm of abstraction, to now painting figures and landscapes in a more representational manner, Mia is interested in creating visual narratives that viewers can relate to.
Tell me about your background and where your creative journey began.
I had somewhat of an unconventional childhood. When I was growing up our family moved around often and we lived in different countries for a few years at a time. I was born in Sweden but also lived in France, the US, and Belgium. As a child I was interested in creative things like drawing and collaging and my mother, who is also an artist, encouraged that. I was the kind of child who was more curious about building an environment or making clothes for Barbie rather than playing with the doll itself. I think our frequent family moves made me resilient to change (in fact even crave it) and perhaps also enriched that inner imaginative and creative world that children inhabit. As a young adult I moved to NYC to attend Pratt Institute which I did for a year before transfering to Hunter College. Because I had to pay for my college tuition I accepted a job from my then mentor and friend to work as her design assistant at a publishing house. I worked for many years as a book designer and graphic designer while continuing to make art on the side. When my husband and I married and moved to Michigan, we had two children, and I freelanced for a few years before returning to a full time art practice. I am glad I made that transition and feel fortunate to have a home studio.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration in all the things I see on a daily basis. I take a lot of pictures when I am on a walk but also of people and settings I come across...and sometimes screenshots of movies or a show I am watching. I am interested in the idea of a narrative in a painting but an ambiguous one. Maybe there is something going on but it's not really clear what it is. I think it's interesting to see what the viewer brings to a piece too, since it is so subjective. In the past year I've also revisited old family and childhood photographs. I am interested in memories, how to depict them, and how much of them are accurate or affected by the passing of time.
How do you select your subject matter?
I have many subjects that interest me so I have to reign myself in at times! Currently I am working to complete certain series. One of them, the Glimpses series, is made of painted segments of various people so I am always looking for someone that peeks my interest. The thing that catches my eye could be a person's interesting feature for a figurative work or a setting that feels evocative for other paintings. For example, as Winter is approaching, I've been thinking about its darker days and I've been taking photographs or our neighborhood streets and their changing appearance. Another series I am working on is the Inside World paintings which reflects the time period of the Spring Covid-19 lockdown.
How have your paintings shifted and evolved over time?
When I first returned to painting I was painting purely abstractly and colorfully but in the past couple of years I've become more and more interested in painting figures and making work that has representational elements. I like how people can relate to that. I've moved from only painting with acrylics on canvas to also painting with oils on paper or cradle board. I also now try to work in series or duplicates and explore a theme in several paintings.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
I wish I could say I am a morning person but I am slow to start my day. I always go for a long walk (rain or shine) with my dog after breakfast. That makes me feel grounded and I love getting the fresh air. After that I usually work on my computer before lunch and go to my studio after that. My painting session usually ends in the afternoon when my children are done with online school and need me. I am more diligent about going into the studio than I was when I first returned to making art. I will go in on most days even if it's just for a short time. If I don't then I will sometimes draw or sketch instead. One of the silver linings about the pandemic has been that I feel liberated to explore different avenues creatively. Even if what I make is different than something I was doing before, I give myself permission to make it and see what comes of it.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Growing up in various countries has made me aware of fascinating cultural variations among people. The subsequent observation of people in different places and the traveling itself has given me the opportunity to take many photos of people and places, that I can use as reference for paintings. As most Swedes do, I feel a strong appreciation for, and connection to nature. I love observing nature's details and am inspired by its colors. On a different note, I recently participated in a collaborative project organized by Shoe Box PR in LA. I was paired up with photographer Jessica Chappe and together we worked on pieces which became the Inside World series. I've worked on collaborations before but this reminded me of how much fun they can be. Finally Covid-19 has of course presented challenges for everyone. With my whole family working or studying from home right now it can feel difficult to secure my studio time.
How has Instagram impacted your art career?
I love using Instagram and I think it has had a (mostly) positive influence. Of course there is always the risk of spending too much time on the app and the bigger risk of comparing yourself to others. Overall though I love connecting with other artists and the feeling of community that Instagram has created. I feel it's a really good place to not only follow artists you admire but also find out about opportunities, such as workshops, call for arts, and organizations you can be involved with. I recently curated an online exhibit and I discovered many, if not most, of the artists included in the show through Instagram! And I've made new friends through the app too.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
Right now, with the pandemic hitting new peaks, it's hard to think very far ahead. Once things return to a more normal state, I would love to exhibit the larger Inside World paintings or the Glimpses series together in a physical space. I miss traveling so besides going to see my family, whom I now haven't seen in two years, I would really like to participate in a residency overseas. I would love to do that in a country that has cultural relevance to me (such as Sweden, France or Belgium) or that holds a unique natural appeal (like Iceland or Ireland). I've curated two art exhibits the past couple of years and I loved selecting and organizing the work so I would also love to jury an art exhibit at some point in the future!
Website: miarisberg.com
Instagram: @miarisbergart