Interview with Artist: Linda Kunik

Why do you do what you do?
I love creating. It makes me feel alive. It also feels great to get lost in a project. Very meditative and rewarding.

What’s is your background?
I was born in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of 6 children, and the first one of my siblings and cousins to go to college. I attended the University of Illinois where I got a BA in Spanish Education. Then, while teaching high school Spanish I got a Master’s In Reading and Learning Disabilities from DePaul University. Moving to California in 1978, I gave up teaching to help my husband in his business and raise two daughters. While they were in elementary school I became an art docent, teaching art history to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at their school. I did that for 7 years.

Then I decided to become an art docent for Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which involved a year-long training program. I was a docent there for 7 years. But sometime in the 7th year at the museum, I decided that I wanted to make art and not just talk about it. I started drawing classes at Brentwood Art Center, and eventually took up painting. I continued taking classes at Brentwood and attended two artist residencies, one in France and the other in Italy. Deciding I wanted to work more conceptually, I enrolled at Otis College of Art and Design, where I became a full-time college student— again. I graduated in 2006 and became a professional artist.

Since then I have had solo and group exhibitions in New York, Florida and all over California. Internationally, I have shown in France, Germany, Peru, Japan, Thailand and numerous times in Italy. I have had residencies in Thailand, Civitella D’Agliano with Lark Gallery, and most recently, BAU Institute in Puglia, Italy. My exhibition history also includes Photo LA, Art Basel Miami and Art Basel in Switzerland.

What art do you most identify with?
Painting, Photography, Mixed Media

What work do you most enjoying doing?
I love working in my organic garden-digging, weeding, planting, watering. It’s very meditative, and then you have all those delicious, organic vegetables to enjoy.

As for my artwork, I love all the aspects of art making—the researching of a topic, experimenting, deciding if it’s a photography or painting project. If it’s photography, taking the photographs, working on the computer, editing, using my emulsion process, cutting out part of the photo, or something new. If it’s a painting, then planning out the color palette, working out the problems, and then finishing the project—the whole journey.

What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?
Playing with my boy cousins who lived down the street from me. Going adventuring in the fields behind my house, climbing trees.

Can you describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
In 1999 I attended an artist residency in Canisy, France, where I spent three weeks with other artists, living in a chateau, making art and it was then that I was introduced to painting with watercolor. I was hooked. Painting became my medium of choice, only to add photography and a combination of the two later on.

Why art?
I am creative in other areas, but making art just seemed to be the one with which I wanted to spend most of my time. I decided to go to art school to learn about conceptual art and to learn to think differently about art and the world. Being a full time art student also gave me the opportunity to study drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, painting, etc. Having all these techniques at my fingertips gave me the freedom and flexibility to realize my artistic concepts.

What is your artistic outlook on life?
To be open to new experience, to try new things, to take a chance, to allow myself to make mistakes.

What makes you angry?
Untrustworthiness and dishonesty.

What is your dream project?
To take my concept and realize it by covering a room from top to bottom with my work. The complete wall. All the walls. To incorporate painting and photography with video, so that the audience feels enveloped in my work. The subject? Not sure yet.

What is your favorite or the most inspirational place in the world?
I have so many: Paris, Italy, India, Kenya, Peru, Cuba. They have all influenced me and my art.

What is your goal?
To keep making art and to always be open to new adventures. For me, making art, showing my art, traveling to foreign countries to exhibit my work and getting to know the people there, maybe making some friends, is all part of why I love being an artis