The Inspiring Mundane with Anna Tork
Brooklyn-based abstract artist Anna Tork explores the mundane by embracing form, composition, and the absence of colour.
Words: Cardia Speziale I Photography: Letìcia Almeid
‘I did often have creative thoughts on making sculptures or installations, but I wrote off art very early in my life because an elementary school teacher told me that I didn’t have “it”,’ says Anna Tork. Photo: Letìcia Almeid
The Vase by Anna Tork. Photo: Letìcia Almeid
‘One thing I love about creativity is the exploration of the mundane in a closer way.’ Photo: Letìcia Almeid
Get the Balance Right by Anna Tork. Photo: Letìcia Almeid
Anna Tork works with a blend of acrylic, pastels and spray paint on cotton canvas, as well as charcoal, graphite and pencil. Photo: Letìcia Almeid
Anna Tork is an Abstract Artist based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a neighbourhood known and loved for the contrast it beholds between the polished skyline, gritty street art and pockets of greenery. Working with a blend of acrylic, pastels and spray paint on cotton canvas, as well as charcoal, graphite and pencil, Anna’s work is a response to the inspiring simplicity of everyday life.
‘One thing I love about creativity is the exploration of the mundane in a closer way,’ says Anna. ‘My work with spray paint reflects my environment — my daily routine is filled with it — however, spray paint in street art generally has a masculine energy about it, so my approach is to apply it in a softer way within my work using acrylics, so it can be taken inside someone’s home,’ she adds.
Discovering modern art as an adult and being drawn to the freedom to choose how to define structure in one’s own work, Anna began to lean into the exploration of physical places, seasonality and the harmony of daily life through the compositions of shapes, lines and mists.
She muses on the absence of colour in her more recent work, saying that once restricted to shades, her work became more about compositions and the blending of techniques. ‘I’m so happy I did this because it changed the way I look at art. I am still exploring colour, but in a different way than before — it feels fresher and more interesting now,’ she says.
Central to the artist’s approach is the importance she places on finding time and space to explore new ways of creativity; taking months in between series to practice new techniques and concepts and embrace imperfection as a means to find something truly interesting and new. ‘After every series, I take a break for a month or two to simply explore and learn new techniques and ideas,’ she says. ‘It’s a time to allow myself to make work that isn’t perfect and often needs to be scrapped, until I find something new to take into a new collection of work.’
Driving Anna’s artistic continuity is a want to create art that resonates with people to the point that they want to keep it forever. ‘How do you make something abstract that then resonates with people so much that they want to put it in their most sacred space, their home. That’s powerful for me,’ says Anna. ‘When I make something I truly love and someone takes it home, I do feel like this is my dream job,’ she adds.
‘How do you make something abstract that then resonates with people so much that they want to put it in their most sacred space, their home. That’s powerful for me.’ Photo: Letìcia Almeid
Anna Tork works with a blend of acrylic, pastels and spray paint on cotton canvas, as well as charcoal, graphite and pencil. Photo: Letìcia Almeid
“One thing that many new artists are concerned about, me included, is developing your own distinct style. However, I’ve learned that simply takes time to hone in your voice and it’s okay if it evolves as well.”
‘When I make something I truly love and someone takes it home, I do feel like this is my dream job.’ Photo: Letìcia Almeid