SPOON is an award-winning artist who blends historical and cultural subject matters with a clean, contemporary palette. Her work is both intentionally minimalist and acutely detailed, creating a special  experience for the viewer. Come see some of SPOON’s uniquely dynamic artwork displayed at our upcoming event, TEDxPeachtree on October 17th!

1. Our theme this year implies the discovery of something that was before unseen. Tell us about a pure unexpected change in your life that was the illumination of a revelation.

Illumination, to me, implies enlightenment or the development of knowledge. Not necessarily knowledge in a studied, book-smart way, but any event that results in a new way of thinking based on data of which you were previously unaware. When I quit my job as an Urban Designer, I didn’t have a plan. You always try to think of “what would I do if I could have any job?”, but if your day-to-day life remains unchanged, then how can you expect to continually input the same data into a question and expect a different answer? So when I was finally free to do “any job,” I just started paying attention to the opportunities that were being put at my feet and problem solving.

2. At the end of the day, what is it about your work that keeps you going?

Depends on the day. Some days it’s that I’m feeling inspired and I have ideas pouring out of me that I just want to execute before I forget them. Then other days it is the drive of success. Seeing something you built grow.

3. What is your passion?

Anything my brain can feed on. I don’t come across something that I don’t understand or know how to do and just accept it as such. There is always an answer or a means to an end. I just have to figure out what it is. Even if you don’t solve the problem, or nail the solution, the process of discovery is just as valuable. Sounds like bullshit, especially if you’re in the middle of a failure, but it’s the truth.

4. Which talent would you most like to have?

I can only pick one? Probably the talent of apathy. I’ve never been good at lukewarm. To be able to decide to just truly not care about something seems to me like it would be liberating. I’ve always got an opinion and I always care, which can be a good thing, but the ability to turn that off when something really doesn’t matter I think is incredibly powerful.

5. What keeps you centered in this crazy world?

It’s sounds cliché, but my husband. If I’m fire/earth, he’s water. He keeps me grounded and inspired all at the same time. I literally wouldn’t be doing anything I’m doing right now, if it wasn’t for his support and mad-scientist ideas.

6. What is one place you’ve visited that you’ll never forget?

This is probably a bad question for me. I think that I’m 45% future, 45% present and only 10% past, so I will probably forget most places that I have visited. I played basketball in Estonia – sounds memorable, but it’s a fleeting memory at this point. My husband and I were led into the pitch-black, guarded tombs around the Pyramids of Giza; also incredibly memorable. But I think my focus will always be on future adventures.

7. What are three words to best describe you?

To be continued….