On a bustling Friday evening in New York City, art enthusiasts gathered at Lume Studios for the opening of "Sessions," Faith Love's inaugural solo exhibition. Faith, a captivating, self-taught visual artist from Peoria, Illinois, curated this show in collaboration with Superchief Gallery. Together they transformed Lume with an ethereal display of multimedia works alongside a secluded room designed like a therapist's office, reflecting Faith's personal journey with therapy and mental health.
Upon entering, there was a “how are you feeling today?” chart featuring different emotions paired with art from renowned artists, like Carla the Poet and Aaron Ricketts. Visitors immersed themselves in the minimalist, yet emotionally charged artwork adorning the walls in different mediums, from jeans to rugs. They were greeted inquisitively by performing artist, Crux, who portrayed the role of “therapist.” This character interactively simulated the feeling of being in therapy to amplify Faith’s art.
An intimate artist talk unfolded in the guise of a therapy session between Faith and Crux. The exchange offered a profound glimpse into Faith’s life, challenges, and triumphs along her journey.
Crux: Faith, thank you for sharing your story with us today. Can you tell us about your journey as an artist and how your childhood experiences have influenced your work?
Faith: My childhood was rough. I don't dwell as much as I probably should anymore, because I've healed. It's no longer who I am as a person. But my mom is here today. She's in the front. Y'all know if you see, I stole her face. I knew that she would be here, but I want to talk about this because I think she would appreciate it, and because she is a completely changed woman.
My mother was on drugs, so being a child was kind of rough. It wasn't kind of rough, it was very rough. The first half of my life was not spent with her, and the people that I spent the first half of my life with, they just weren't my mom.
As Faith delved deeper into past hardships experienced amidst her family, a sense of admiration and empathy radiated from the audience. Despite the pain she endured, Faith resiliently found peace in reading and writing.
Faith: I always saw books as a form of art, and I loved reading as a kid, I was obsessed with it. It was probably the one thing I did good as a child because I couldn't focus on anything else, because my mind was very hyper-focused on the pain that I was enduring as a kid.
Crux: That's powerful, Faith. How has therapy played a role in your personal growth and artistic development?
Faith: I felt like all of my therapists were on my side. They knew that the people who were bringing me to therapy weren't on my side. So in their own little indirect ways, they made sure to remind me that I was going to be special when I got older. That is something that sits with me forever to this day.
Honestly, just words of encouragement have pushed me to where I am. People telling me that I am going to be great versus people telling me that I'm going to be nothing. And I've heard my fair share of, “You are going to be nothing,” “You will always have problems,” “You need help.” Don't we all? I use my art as my help.
Crux: Can you share more about your creative process and how it relates to your own healing journey?
Faith: I don't know if it's like my own personal therapy with myself when I'm drawing because there's a lot of frustration, because I don't create for other people. At the end of the drawing, I always say, “Am I going to like this?” And I've learned how to just let that go, I don't care anymore. I like it. It's up for me, and I can relate to my work.
Every emotion in the room is old. It's something I felt at some point in my life. I don't feel like anything is current, because I can't just draw a current emotion. So I draw things that are always resurfacing.
There are a lot of emotions that I haven't drawn from my childhood that are trying to resurface, and when they fully resurface I'm going to draw them, and the work is going to get more complex and complicated to understand.
Faith's authentic storytelling along with the raw emotions in her artwork moved the crowd into a state of vulnerability. Each piece in the exhibition seemed to carry a part of her soul, inviting viewers to confront their own emotions through a truly honest lens.
Crux: What do you hope visitors will take away from the "Sessions" exhibition?
Faith: I hope as you continue to consume the work, you face the emotions that you've been struggling to face. If there's something that you've been scared to feel, I hope that when you walk away, you can feel it. When you've been thinking about cutting people off, do it. I'm hoping that that's what happens. I need people to be vulnerable and feel vulnerable. Take a look at yourself in the many mirrors in the room, read my bio, take a picture in the mirrors, truly see yourself, face yourself. And when you leave, think about how you really feel.
In a world where we often hide our true selves behind masks and facades, Faith Love's "Sessions" exhibition reminds us of the power of authenticity and the importance of facing our emotions head-on. Through her work, Faith creates space for viewers to connect with their own stories and find solace in the shared human experience.
A selection of artworks from the exhibition are still available for purchase. Visit Faith’s website to inquire about available artworks or to learn more about her journey.
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