TIME TO BE HAPPY
Jen Stark x Benzi
4 Questions with Jen Stark
What Sparked you to be an artist?
I’ve always loved creating things. My grandfather was an artist and he would paint watercolor scenes of things like birds or sailboats. He really helped foster my passion for art. He was a huge inspiration for me becoming an artist.
Growing up, there was this amazing old toy of concentric, rainbow rings that I would always played with at my grandparents house. It was the same toy that my father played with as a child as well. I loved it so much, I inherited it as a reminder of them when they passed. I definitely think this toy helped develop my inspiration of colors & geometric shapes.
What was the first art piece you’ve sold?
One of the first works I ever sold was a paper sculpture called Burst in 2007. It was a stack of construction paper that was hand cut layer by layer) I was so thrilled that a collector wanted to buy my work.
What is your most meaningful art creation to date (December 2022)?
I’d have to say the most meaningful work I’ve created is ‘Cascade Show’ in NYC last year. It was a 6,000 sq ft immersive exhibit with interactive projections. It took a team to build it and it was incredible to have so many people come see it and play inside the art. I’ll be traveling the show to Los Angeles next year which I’m very excited about!
How would you describe your experience working on the clock?
Being able to paint my oozing, vibrant colors on such a historic antique was so much fun. I’ve been painting on flat surfaces for years now and it was a joy to be able to paint on something more 3-dimensional. It actually gave me other ideas for more sculptural paintings I’d like to do in the near future. I’m really happy with how the project came out.