Artist Spotlight: Q&A with Chloe Simpson
- Andersen Beck
- May 23
- 9 min read
On Tuesday, I was once again called up to Haven for an interview, this time not for a band, but for one of Haven's own art ambassadors, Chloe Simpson (aka Joyisrevolutionary). I've been excited to talk to her for a while, as I am a big fan of her style and am impressed by her creative output. We sat and talked in Haven's loft, surrounded by collage murals, antique furnishings, and a funky lamp.
Chloe, a native of Towson, Maryland, just graduated from Pitt with dual bachelor's degrees in Urban Studies and Film and Media Production. She works at Haven and manages most of the interior design, as well as being one of Haven's resident artists. To see more about her and access her work, follow the link to her website here.
Q. When did you find out art was something you really wanted to pursue?
A. I've always been doing art ever since I was a kid; I've always been drawing an creating, it just felt like something that I needed to do, and I loved it. I love just making something out of thin air. I'm a big fan of just creating little creatures, you know, it's like he wasn't there before and now he is. Like that power is such– it's power to be able to create in that way.
I did it (art) on and off throughout high school and the beginning of college, but you know, you get caught up in school and stuff. So I kinda dropped off for a while, a few years. Then I got back into it last year and ever since I've just been creating every day. It kind of, I don't know, makes me feel sane. It makes me feel normal and that's just how I express myself.
Q. How's that everyday grind? Ever get burned out?
A. With drawing, no. I can kind of draw forever. I'll get tired after a while, but I usually don't have a problem with doing it all day.
(Insert note: breaking continuity, at a point in the recording prior to beginning the interview, Chloe described how she actively makes art during shows in the venue below and how people can come up and hang out.)
Q. Is it easy to concentrate (on art during a concert)?
A. Yes, hearing the music helps me; it's easier to concentrate here than it would be at home. I think having other stuff going on kinda gets me out of my head a little bit and I'm able to flow easier because I'm getting all the inspiration from the music that's happening and hearing little snippets of conversation. Usually I'm here with my friends who are also doing art, so it's an environment that's really conducive to creating.
Q. I know that you're super mixed-media, what do you usually work on during a show?
A. I do a lot of drawing, I'd say that's the main thing I do during shows; that could be with pen, or oil pastel, could be with markers. We've got a bunch of post office stickers here, so I like to encourage other people to draw as well. It's what I do when I'm just sitting around, that's where my brain goes, I need to be doing something. Occasionally I'll paint, that just takes a lot more setup.
Q. What's your favorite medium to work in?
A. That's difficult for me to answer because I work in so many different mediums and there's a lot I haven't tried. I would love to work in metal or wood and stuff more sculpture oriented.
I also do film; I would say film is the big one. Film is visual but it's also auditory. I do documentary film, so I really enjoy storytelling. I like the whole process; I'm good at editing but I hate it (*laughs) thats the part I hate the most. But I love the cinematography part. I love interviewing, directing, being a part of (everything). Like all the projects I've done have just been me.
I just did a personal film this summer, it's called Take Up Space. It has a lot to do with Haven, a lot to do with me, a lot to do with this neighborhood and real estate.
Q. I also saw upcoming Steps of Whimsy, where are we with that?
A. Yeah, tentative title, but that's a little short feature I'm doing for the Warhol academy, the Warhol Museum's production side. I's about artists that have been inspired by the Pittsburgh city steps. I don't know if you're familiar, but there's over 900 staircases in Pittsburgh because of the topography that kind of developed when people couldn't afford to live like really close to the mills. People needed to go to work everyday, so there's all these staircases developed going up into the hills where people's houses were. They started as wood and they became concrete, now many of them are still there, many have kind of crumbled into the wilderness, but they're still used by people; they're pretty cool and pretty whimsical.
Q. How long have you been working on clothing? I saw your work with Lazy Coup.
A. Okay, so that is a very new thing for me I'd say. Just last night was my first (time). So Lazy Coup is my partner, full disclosure. Yeah I haven't really done anything with clothing before now. I did photography for him (Lazy Coup) and I've been sewing a little bit, like I don't know how to sew or anything. I've been learning a little bit through him and his process because he reworks vintage clothing. You should interview him.
He does really unique stuff, screen printing too, and it's all his own art, so wearable art is kinda the thing. He makes these things called Holster Pockets and they're kinda like pockets he puts on pants and jackets and they're shaped like a holster. I drew on a bunch of them and last night he put them on a jacket for me. So that was kinda my first time having art on clothing, which was really exciting. I'm excited to experiment a little bit, learn a bit of sewing, and I would like to start making my own clothes.
Q. What's it been like working with/in Haven?
A. It's been amazing. It's been this whole last semester, there's not even really words to describe it. Like every weekend I don't have to figure out what my plans are because I'm just going to be at Haven; there's going to be a great show going on, I'm going to be there creating, and it's a really good group of people. It's been really cool to hang out and spend time with them and then also work together towards a common goal.
In looking at Oakland's history of music venues, there were a lot but then they all kind of shut down in the early 2000's, so it kinda moved underground to house shows. It's been nice to create a venue that's more accessible and no alcohol, so it's safer for people who don't want to be around alcohol or are under 21. It's been nice to create a space that people of all ages can enjoy; I know theres been kids here, some old people, and it's been a fun mishmash of all sorts of people from all over the city too, not just Oakland.
Q. What do people tell you about your work?
A. I guess I get a lot of compliments, like "Oh I love this," or "How did you think of that?" or like "Oh it's weird," and it's weird is my favorite. Like that's the point, anything that elicits a reaction is awesome. I'm trying to get out there more, because it's been great having this space because people have been seeing my art, some of it is for sale over there (motioning to the vendor table). I've been seeing people's reactions to it, which has been really, really, really cool; so I'm like "okay it's time to start building and getting my work out there more," and now that I've graduated, I actually have time to focus on that, I'm excited.
Q. What are some challenges that you've overcome as an artist in the past couple years?
A. I think just like the mental part of it, and you know you'll never fully overcome that. There's this book called The War of Art (Steven Pressfield) and it talks a lot about resistance, and resistance is like that little voice in the back of your head that's like "Ugh I'm too tired to do my art," or "I don't feel like it," or "It doesn't matter so I'm not gonna do it." Even when you're doing it, you're thinking too much about it, like, "Oh this isn't good, I don't like this, I don't wanna keep drawing it." That's the little voice in the back of your head, and it will come up all the time. I think I've been better at kind of just getting into the flow and not worrying too much about the outcome of the piece. Just letting it be what it is, giving into the moment I guess. Letting it come in it's own time.
Q. Is there anything that you've changed your opinion on, or way of thinking of, as far as art goes?
A. I think just like, it doesn't have to be good. Like you don't have to worry so much about how it turns out. If you're having fun while you're doing it, none of that matters. And honestly the more you do it, the more familiar you'll get with whatever medium you're working in, and the better it'll be. It's all about learning along the way. I think a lot of people start doing something like art and they're not instantly good at it, so they're like "Oh whatever, I'm not gonna keep doing it," but you have to. You have to have that drive, I think a lot of people don't. It's easier to do whatever, like watch a show or something. But for me, art is life, there's really no point if I'm not doing art; I need to do it to survive.
Q. So, graduation. Where are we going from here?
A. Great question, I don't know yet. Right now I have a summer job, going to be working there for the summer, making some money; unfortunately I've got to make money. I'm saving up, I'll hopefully be moving to a new apartment and staying in Pittsburgh, continuing working but also doing my art. Eventually, and hopefully, I'll be able to move over to art/film-only side, or just doing something I love that I get paid for. Like here at Haven, none of us get paid for anything, it's just showing up out of the love. So the goal is to continue building, make money so I have a pad of support, and eventually going for it for art.
Q. What was your major?
A. Urban studies and Film Media production.
Q. How was Urban Studies for you?
A. It was awesome. I think anyone who's studying film needs to also study something else because it kind of informs your filmmaking. If you're making a movie and you only know the technical side, like you could have a really good camera and be really good at working it, but if the subject of it isn't interesting or good, then there's no point to it. For me, urban studies inform my documentary tilts a lot, because Urban Studies is kind of like the nexus of social struggle in a city, and like looking at how land is used, who gets access to it, who gets to use it. There's a lot of power relationships that play in that. So that was always really interesting to me, especially being in a university town. Oakland used to be all immigrants, all steelworkers; over time in Pittsburgh, the industry declined and in the 80's it was practically gone, the population dropped like 40% or something. A whole bunch of people left, there was the suburbanization, then Pitt was growing so now there's all these students, but the neighborhood is kind of trashy, falling apart. There's all these beautiful buildings but they're falling apart, lotta slumlords. I found that fascinating, so it was where a lot of that started. It's just the meeting of so many different things in the city, I love cities.
Q. What's something that you're really passionate about (doing)?
A. I would say there's a lot of things, film would probably be the first that comes to mind. But also just making my little guys, I love just creatin' a lil creature, you know? Nothing like that. Last night actually I did my first large spray paint piece and I had so much fun. It was very much a learning experience, like I did a lot of stuff wrong, not how I wanted it to be, but I still love it and I had so much fun doing it. So I'd say like, spray painting now?
Thank you to Chloe for having me down and being a generous interviewee! And you, dear readers, go check out Chloe's Instagram right now @joyisrevolutionary, she's always sharing really cool work. Make sure to also take a look at her website joy-is-revolutionary.com, where you can access things like her film work and portfolio. Just as well, GO TO HAVEN! There's always great shows going on and cool art to buy!
I hope you enjoyed this article, I encourage all of you to go out and find art and artists around the city. Pittsburgh is brimming with creativity and authentic artists, show them we don't take them for granted!
-Andersen Beck Founder, Reporter
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