Meet Misha!
It's time for you to meet our 2022 JUMBLED Art Superstar - Misha Harrison! Misha's work is unlike ANYTHING we have ever seen! Three dimensional, puzzle like artworks with bright, fresh colours!
We sat down with Misha to dig deeper into what makes this incredible artist tick!
How would you describe your art practice?
I would describe my art practice as an intersection of painting and sculpture. The main objective of my practice is challenging the boundaries of the materiality of the plywood- to see how far I can push this unconventional art medium. My art translates real-life flower bouquets, fruit and drapery into three dimensional still life artworks.
For me the process of making is just as important as the final result. I describe my artworks to people who haven’t seen them as big jigsaw puzzles. Not only does every piece of the artwork slot into its place but the journey of the creation of each artwork is like a puzzle too. There is a lot of problem solving that goes into my artistic practice.
What was your childhood like?
My childhood was great! I was a huge tomboy growing up (and still am). I was always up a tree, down the creek or in the bush making cubbies or exploring. I always had a fascination with building and creating, my parents said they knew I was a creative from a very young age. Other young girls were playing with dolls, I was up a tree with the tool belt on haha. My other love as a kid was sport, I played representative soccer and touch football as well as athletics. Along with these sports I surfed religiously. Everyday before and after school (Sometimes when it was really good I surfed instead of school lol). Rain, hail or shine I was riding my bike down the beach to get waves. I was lucky as a kid. I was always going away bush camping with my family. I still have so many fond memories of those camping trips. I have always loved nature and animals and those experiences were really special to me.
What is a typical day for you?
A typical day in the life off Misha Harrison goes a bit like this:5:30 am wake up to go for a sunrise walk along the bike track in Wollongong. I like to see some beauty before my day starts- I always feel inspired after a sunrise over the ocean. It has a way of making me feel grounded and almost insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. 8:00am I hit the studio and basically don’t stop until lunch time. I have a quick bite to eat then back at it until about 430-530.530 I go to yoga or some other exercise, then home to eat dinner and crash out. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day for me at the moment!
Where do you gather inspiration from?
A lot of things inspire me but I definitely get a lot of my inspiration from nature. Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me. It is full of beautiful colours, interesting shapes and patterns. I sometimes look at plants and think they are so otherworldly with their forms and colours. Mother Nature is the greatest artist!
What do you listen to while you work? Podcasts or music?Mostly podcasts, but I have my days where I’ll chuck on some music and dance through the day! Sometimes even silence is golden. I guess it kinda depends on my mood.
When you're not creating, what do you like to do?
SLEEP! Haha I’m still working out my work/ life balance. This last year has been so busy for me. When I’m not creating I love catching up with friends, going on bush walks, or going down the coast with my boyfriend.
If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
That is a great question! I remember there was a time in school where I was deciding whether to pursue acting or art. I’m a very animated person. So who knows maybe in an alternate dimension I’m a famous actor! Haha.Other than acting I would say anything creative, I love fashion, interior design. So maybe a fashion designer or interior designer!
What does the future look like?*Looks into crystal ball*The future looks pretty damn exciting! I have a solo exhibition at Red Gallery in Melbourne in May 2023. Then hopefully another solo show with Sydney Road Gallery at the end of next year. I also have to get cracking on more work for you guys too! I just want to continue making my art, keep gaining traction and making more connections. I’m just going to keep putting in the work and passion into my practice and let the universe do its thing. If this last year is a teaser of what’s to come I’m super excited to see what’s next!
