Art: RadCollector: Sky Farrell Interview

Sky Farrell is an artist who has taken on the cause that in this age of digital images, iPad magazines and the internet, PRINT IS ANYTHING BUT DEAD. Her instantly recognizable collage style is rapidly carving her out a niche that pays homage to some of the greatest images, print magazines and advertisements of our time. Known for her incredible style and beautiful collage paintings, Sky Farrell shares some thoughts and insights with Rad Collector's JZ Radical of Natural Koncepts. Read the interview in it's entirety after the jump along with some of Sky's work...

Your archive of fashion, art & music magazines & books must be quite extensive. Tell us a little about your collection.

Ever since I could remember I was fascinated by collecting, searching & devouring pop culture and historically influential vintage magazines and books. I looked at reading and attaining my now vast archives of iconic imagery as if they were text books in my school of life, I needed to read them to know what and why we create what we do today. Primarily my work is its own interpretation of explosions of mixed media curated pieces that revisit iconic photographs, eras, retro pop culture, music and my favorite influences.

You have mentioned how much you love your Miami studio aptly named the “Creation Station.” Tell us about the neighborhood it’s located in.

My studio is located in the heart of Miami’s design district now named Wynwood. In the past few years the famed art festival known as Art Basel has made this (once ghetto) area a graffiti, art & visual arts mecca. Jeffery Deitch was the first to see the potential of this area 3 years ago when he commissioned graffiti and street arts most famous artists to transform the area into a place people can marvel at huge and endless amounts of murals and galleries that now make up Wynwood.

Any specific projects/upcoming events we should keep an eye out for?

An upcoming collaboration with Natural Koncept Skateboards! A collaboration of editorial work with Love Cat Magazine, as well as working with various artists merging our styles together & of course my website which I debut and update daily with all my new works, photographs & inspirational stuff.

Who are your biggest influences?

Wes Farrell, Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, Sophia Loren, Angelica Houston, Salvador Dali, Stanley Kubrick, Man Ray, Rene Magritte, Bridgette Bardot, Blondie, Bowie, Elton John, Kiki De Montparnesse, Coco Chanel, Patti Smith, Helmut Newton, Jean Paul Goude, Grace Jones, Richard Prince, Peter Beard, David Bailey, Robert Mapplethorpe, Gianni Versace, Alaia, Yves Saint Laurent, Vivianne Westwood, Tim Burton, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Timothy Leary…the list goes on…

Do you have some tricks on a skateboard? Can you ollie? I’m guessing that you can.

I wish, unfortunately no. But I definitely got some other tricks..I surprisingly can fly, swim & dance thru life..I find it much more fascinating then walking or wheels.