Meet Olivia Mae, a captivating 24-year-old artist based in the vibrant area of Santa Monica. With her profound passion and creative energy, Olivia has established herself as a multidisciplinary artist, weaving intricate narratives in her artwork that delve into themes of femininity, aesthetic value, and consumption. Interested by methods of self expression and the historical representation of women in art, Olivia’s work is, in her words, “an overlap between femininity and advertising”. Her inspiration can be traced through 1950’s animation, old Disney movies and cartoons like Looney Toons as she implores elements like bold colors, contrasting figures, ethereal scapes, and bubbly text across her work. With boundless creativity and vision, Olivia Mae is undoubtedly an artist to watch as she continues to create new art with interesting materials and riveting subject matter.

Mae's journey to becoming an artist has been nurtured by artistry and creativity since her earliest days. Growing up attending a Waldorf school with its strong emphasis on arts education, Olivia was exposed to a captivating world of colors and self-expression. Art was not simply a subject to her; it permeated her family's roots. With grandparents who collected art, a mother who studied printmaking in college, and two uncles who pursued artistic careers, Olivia was surrounded by a rich artistic heritage that inspired and encouraged her own passion. Fueling her drive to explore her artistic talents further, Olivia went on to graduate from Tufts University, earning a B.F.A. in Studio Arts. This formal education helped foster her most prominent mixed media paintings as she experimented with the style while working on her thesis project.

“I paint for the girls! I feel like in my everyday life I don't necessarily scream girly girl, so my paintings are an outlet for me to just be as opulent and decadent as I want without it being so directly tied to my visual identity.”

Olivia's journey towards bringing her mixed media work to fruition was not without its challenges. While her sketchbooks were always a testament to her affinity for mixed media, incorporating this unique approach into her paintings proved to be a hurdle. It was during her college years that a serendipitous moment gave birth to a breakthrough. In an experimental project, Olivia, inspired by her altered state of mind, decided to explore spray foam as a medium on canvas. This unconventional choice connected the dots for her, revealing the bridge between her sketchbooks and paintings. From that point on, Olivia began to embrace texture more wholeheartedly in her regular paintings. Her deep appreciation for shine and intricate details became the driving force behind her artistic expression. She firmly believes that these carefully crafted moments of detail are what truly brings a painting to life, igniting a captivating visual narrative for the viewer.

This budding artist recently celebrated a thrilling milestone, participating in her first group exhibition at Brea Gallery. The poignant piece she showcased, titled "Better Housekeeping," stood as a powerful testament to Olivia's talent and her ability to provoke thought and introspection within her audience. Her unique and ethereal landscapes transport you to a dreamlike realm where reality and fantasy intertwine. What sets her apart is her playful approach, extending her paintings off the edge of the canvas, adding an unconventional and daring touch. Olivia Mae’s paintings are a delightful blend of imagination and skill, her talent is truly special and mesmerizing.