We had an exclusive interview with Tiffanie Anderson “The Pretty Artist” about her craft, success, and the state of galleries. Check it out!
To speak with Tiffanie Anderson (AKA The Pretty Artist) is an important opportunity not to be missed. I managed a nine-hour time difference in order to make it happen, unsure when it might happen again. Her schedule is notoriously tight, and even ten minutes to chat over the phone would mean something. She’s known to paint portraits of today’s biggest influencers, from Barack Obama to The Weeknd to Floyd Mayweather and literally everyone in between. I caught her getting ready for the day, it was 9:30 am LA time. She spoke calmly and seemed wide awake.
Anderson has been thrown into the spotlight in recent years for her stunning works of portraiture – a commitment to making people look as good as they feel. This was a subject I hadn’t anticipated to chat about with Tiffanie. “People often think they look better than they do” she remarked offhandedly. Tiffanie wasn’t trying to be funny or coy here. It’s an astute observation that perhaps only a woman who paints pictures of people would be able to make. It obviously wasn’t an attack on specific people, but rather a comment on human nature. I asked her to go further with the idea.
“Well, when I paint, I try not to show the work to the subject as it’s in progress. It’s important to keep it to myself until it’s done. I want the subject to look the best they can.” This is a dilemma any artist might face, especially those who work in realism. But take a look at Tiffanie’s work, and you’ll realize the beauty is unique. It’s not baby-faced magic or pillow soft aesthetics. It’s often acid-soaked, hyper-saturated reds and yellows, faces like the surface of the sun, blazing against often pitch-black backgrounds. They’re not scary or intimidating. They’re brave. They’re live wires. They’re alive. Working on a large scale, they can be intimidating.
Tiffanie’s commitment to herself and her brand is what’s important though. “Music is essential. I always love a dope new album or mix to help me get through a work. And travel. I absolutely love to travel as a way to relax and stay inspired.”
She spoke about her rise – a difficult one at first, finding space to paint in garages, friend’s backyards; kitchens. She was forced to make tough decisions. “Sometimes I’d actually have to weigh the options. Do I buy a canvas, or do I eat? The logic was the canvas could ultimately buy me more food. That wasn’t a guarantee.” Even today, she doesn’t guarantee anything. “I have to work hard, always. Resting isn’t an option, especially as a woman. I always need to improve myself.”
Based in LA, Anderson seems to have broken through the upper crust of the artistic society, now being commissioned by today’s top talent to produce works. She’s gone from no studio to a large one, with an assistant.
At this point in the conversation, we began discussing the work of assistants. “I don’t have my assistants do my work. I’m too much of a perfectionist.” We got to speaking about factory-like studios such as Jeff Koons and others. “New York galleries expect that. You have to have some big concept. Raw talent takes a total backseat. It’s why I don’t expect to get picked up by galleries there. LA is more organic, more observant, New York galleries seem to be obsessed with the next big trend, instead of making the trend themselves.”
It was a moment of levity for the both of us, speaking candidly about gallery culture on the two coasts, and how they couldn’t be any more different. Let’s not forget how badly street art ended up doing when NY Galleries picked it up as “fine art”. Anderson is cautious about brand, maybe even obsessive. The Pretty Artist is a deliberate identification. An appreciation of feminine values and the artist as a female.
The conversation ended with an obvious question, “What’re you doing next?” And Tiffanie’s answer was exactly what I hoped for: “At the end of the day, I’m not going to answer to trends. I’ll keep doing what I do.”