MySpace Princess
Creative Director/Nail Artist: Katy Lueck
1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?
In 2015 the East Village explosion displaced me from my apartment. At the time I was an aspiring actor and that week I had a particularly rough string of auditions. My approach shifted immediately—I took the creative process into my own hands, ditching auditioning for directing. I realized I didn’t want to wait (& didn’t have to) for someone to give me the space to create. Self expression and storytelling became the focus. I started by writing/directing short films which led to starting a band after a particularly inspiring collaboration with a music supervisor. I continued, more recently adding nail art and fashion editorials to my rotation of ongoing projects. Being on set in a collaborative state is my favorite work—getting the visions in my head out in the world.
2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?
Recently I was creating nails for a shoot with a nail artist whom I had approached because I admired her work. She unexpectedly ended up bringing me on as creative producer for the launch of her new press on brand. It was so exciting to support her vision and be the glue that brought the whole team together. The shoot outcome far outweighed our expectations. It invigorated me to continue saying yes to projects and collaborators that inspire me. It just really made me feel like “okay what’s next,” like an onward and upward momentum that I’m definitely gonna ride.
3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?
One project had me living onsite in a castle in the Irish countryside. Our bootstrap team was on top of one another for the 2 week shoot; physical and creative boundaries literally challenged every day. Add to the fact that we were working on a Shakespeare, which never was my bag—I was more inspired by the prospect of seeing Ireland. Instead of getting hung up on the Shakespeare of it all, I honed in on my role of bringing the world alive as art director. For me to succeed, it became less about the story being told in the script and more about the world our director and production designer needed to achieve. I learned that there’s many different roads to the final product, you just have to find the one that makes sense for you.
4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?
As a nail artist with deep roots in film & music, I will always tell a story through my editorials. Our nails are an extension of who we are, it’s self expression and culture in motion. I love to travel to get out of my routine and gain new experiences. Learning about and immersing in different cultures gives me new perspectives which always brings inspiration and growth. It gives my mind and creative drive space to evolve instead of staying flat. The goal is always expansion and quality of output over quantity.
5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?
I’ve learned the journey usually reveals those milestones to you, bringing opportunities you didn’t expect while en route towards what you think you want. I am continuing to prioritize experimenting, collaborating and expanding; attracting other artists who see the value in my art. I want to keep following my creative drive without setting a limit to what I can achieve. Shoot for the stars, aim for the moon.
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Inspired by the age of the og digital cameras & a girl's love affair with her MySpace photo albums; picture yourself as a teen loading up your SD card with glam shots in your parents' basement on a friday night. We bring this nostalgia to life with the punk french manicure that would've made your former self the talk of the school.
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Makeup Artist: Kelly Canales
Hair Stylist: Maria Lina Canales
Photographer: Mike Cicchetti
Creative Director/Nail Artist: Katy Lueck
Makeup Artist/Location: Flying Fox Tavern