Summarize your work in one word?

Dispossessed

What inspires you to continue making work?

It's hard to say. My paintings used to be the result of a complete idea. But more so lately, you can see I am working through the concept on the canvas. For example, in one of my more recent pieces there is a classic USA house. One of the ones that were notoriously sold with subprime mortgages that would result in the economic recession of 2007. For me, those houses are a symbol of both my childhood growing up in Arizona and the catalyst for my distrust in capitalistic systems. Above it is written Karl Marx Strasse. Karl Marx, the name of the street I have lived on here in Berlin, and of course, the begetter of Marxism.There is a lot there in terms of layered meanings, symbolism and questions. In the painting I am putting it in context one of another. Not forcing the meaning, but I guess, letting it unfold to myself over time. I continue to make work because at this point it is so inter linked with my thought process, I can't imagine not. It is the compulsion that is the inspiration.

What are you currently working on at the moment?

In short, 100 things at once. During lock down I began a few different collaborative projects, I think to keep connection to my creative community. One of which being a music project, Homicide Involontaire, that will release some tracks soon. I am going to have a solo show at Studio Beta once the galleries are more open. Something I am so grateful and excited for and should probably make some new pieces for....

Who inspires you most to push your work further?

These people specifically and in alphabetical order: 

Anna, Annique, Candela, Emilie, Emma, Ettore, Kaya, Lyndsey, Nicolas, Nuria, Santi, Sarah, Tania, Tea, Yasmin and Zoe :)

If you could say anything to your former self, regarding your art practice, that would help you progress. What would it be?

Don't be so hard on yourself about being hard on yourself. I used to think this was a bad thing. But when I reconciled with it a bit, I realized I could trace back the things in my life I am most proud of as a direct result of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or deep states of depression or anxiety. These are things that will exist in me always. And honestly, if I put myself through anguish, at least it has led me to do some pretty cool stuff even from a bad place.

You can find more of Bailey’s work here and you can follow her here