The P.O.P. Issue 006 - Jen Stark

The P.O.P. (Portraits of POPLIFE) documents inspiring individuals who push artistic boundaries and strive for excellence in order to advance the communities around them. Uniting a wide range of talented creatives from diverse backgrounds, this editorial series invites them to share their passions and the impact they've had on the realms of hospitality, music, fashion, art, and design.

For our sixth issue, we got to spend some time with one of our favorite multi-media artists, Jen Stark, at her studio in LA.

Read below to take a peek inside her workspace and learn about the message she hopes to invoke with her work.

Jen, tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do?

Jen Stark: I’m a visual artist (born and raised in Miami) whose work is influenced by nature, math and psychedelia. My artwork normally consist of painting, sculptures and animations that are a patchwork of colors with repeating shapes, inspired by evolution and infinity. I’ve been a professional artist for 15 years and currently live in LA.?

What got you into what you do???

JS: My grandpa was a hobby artist doing watercolor painting and nature photography. He saw the spark in me at a young age and would invite me over for painting lessons. My parents also helped nurture my creativity by enrolling me in art classes.?

You're a 3rd generation Miamian - can you tell us a bit about your history here?

JS: Yes! I feel very proud of my family’s Miami history. My paternal grandparents met while working at the Miami Herald in the mid 1930s. They were both born in NYC (he was from the Bronx, she was from Queens). He moved to Miami Beach with his family as a teenager and she hopped on a train at 19 years old with a friend and never left. My grandpa got a job with the Herald doing writing, photography, and public relations for places like Monkey Jungle and Parrot Jungle back in the day when they first opened. My grandma edited classified ads and ended up meeting each other at work and falling in love.?On my mother’s side - these grandparents both grew up in Wynwood in the 1930s - their families lived next to each when they were teenagers (my grandma was literally the girl next door). They eventually got married and owned a dairy farm where the Miami Airport is now. The government took the land from them in the early 1950s to expand it.?

Can you tell us about growing up in Miami?

JS: I didn’t realize how unique Miami was until I went away for college. There are so many different cultures, languages and lush nature to be inspired by. I feel very fortunate to grow up in such a wild, volatile and beautiful place. I was born in South Miami and attended public school (enrolling in art classes). During highschool I went to New World School of the Arts and rode the Metrorail into downtown every day. Tom Wyroba was the head art teacher then - teaching us an amazing work ethic & technical skill. If it wasn’t for him and that school, I wouldn’t be as independent and self determined - always pushing the boundaries and trying to level up. Miami tends to instill that hustle in you.?

How did your move to LA come about? What drove you to move from sunny Miami to sunny LA?

JS: I lived most of my life in Miami and decided it was time to experience a new city that could help expand my career. I traveled to Miami with artists FriendsWithYou and Alvaro Ilizarbe. It was an exciting time.?

Tell us about what you’re working on now. Any new exciting projects??

JS: I’m working on traveling my latest project “Cascade Show”: a large scale interactive experience which consists of multiple rooms of immersive projections you can move and play with your hands and body.

What inspired this new project???

JS: I grew up as a traditional gallery artist (with art the viewer is not allowed to touch) so being able to let the viewer touch and really immerse themselves in my artwork is very exciting to me. Hopefully we’ll bring it to Miami soon! Check out more at: www.cascadeshow.com

What message do you want to invoke via your art??

JS: Simply - I’d like people to feel joy from experiencing my work. I hope it inspires people to pursue their own passions in life.?

What would you tell your younger self?

JS: I’d tell my younger self to keep moving, don’t get distracted by others opinions, and keep pushing towards your passions. It will all work out.

What is a significant memory you have with POPLIFE? Can you describe if POPLIFE has made a significant impression on your life/lifestyle?

JS: Oh man, POPLIFE really opened up my world as a young adult in Miami. It would be impossible to name all the amazing parties they organized - but I remember being able to dance like I never had before with a bunch of other incredible Miami weirdos in the Design District around 2005. It helped magnetize like-minded creatives to each other. I met so many incredible people at the parties and events over the years. I definitely wouldn’t have met some of my best friends if it wasn’t for POPLIFE, OR be as good a dancer. It truly was the local Miami watering hole and I’m so grateful for it.?