Meet Autumn Mcilraith | Collage artist and data analyst

We had the good fortune of connecting with Autumn Mcilraith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Autumn, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in rural Northern California, near the Pacific Ocean and the redwood forest, surrounded by awe-inspiring natural beauty. This has given me a deep appreciation for the natural world, and an interest in the patterns that are found there, from botanical details to mutualistic interspecies relationships.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I draw on personal experiences in my art, including chronic pain from migraine and endometriosis, and living in a city where I see more concrete than dirt on a daily basis. Human body, cityscape, and internal mental landscapes can all be seen in my work. I make collages and mixed media pieces from a variety of materials, and I’m particularly interested in work that is interactive: wearable, movable, or responsive to input from the viewer.

I’ve been expanding my definition of my artistic practice lately. I used to feel like it only “counted” if I was actively making an artwork, but it involves so much more than that. Collecting things – leaves, shells, birth control packaging, etc. – that catch my attention in some way, through color, texture, or repeated pattern. Finding books and magazines (or receiving them from friends!), methodically searching through them for images and text, and then sorting, organizing, and storing the clippings. Snapping photos when I notice a particular tree branch or stoplight or skyline. And reading – deep dives on interesting topics, and filling notebooks with words, phrases, definitions. I consider all of this to fall within my artistic practice.

Something that I’m still figuring out right now is how to expand my practice further to include interactive elements with my artist community and the larger community in Houston and beyond. I think one of the beautiful things about collage is how each new piece emerges from the fusion of existing elements, which is a great metaphor for community. And I’m interested in seeing how we can use collage as a medium of exchange and connection, to build shared meaning and to talk about ideas, and challenges, that are so much larger than any one of us.

I work full time as a data analyst, and people are often surprised when they hear this. I am trained as a scientist and a statistician, and that’s an important part of how my brain works. I guess I don’t see a conflict between my scientist self and my artist self. They’re just different facets of who I am. The biggest challenge is time: working a 9 to 5 job means that my art often has to fit in around the edges, evenings and weekends.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I first moved to Houston I lived in Montrose, and I still have a soft spot for that neighborhood. The visit would have to include a trip to the Menil Collection, and a picnic at Menil Park, weather allowing. I love to thrift, and that’s a great area for it, including places like the Charity Guild shop, Cottage House, and Out of the Closet. Houston is full of great coffee shops and cafes, the list would be endless but a couple favorites are Retrospect, Doshi House, and the newly opened Kefita Coffee. Maybe grab lattes to go, and head to the Arboretum for a walk one morning. Also bookstores: Kaboom Books, Kindred Stories, Brazos Bookstore, and Basket Books and Art. For a Friday night out, we’d go to Pearl Bar and maybe catch a drag show or burlesque performance, or if we’re not feeling that high energy, maybe dinner and live music at Mo’ Better Brews, or Bohemeo’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to recognize my friend Farah Mithani. She gave me some of my first opportunities to share my art with others, and I don’t know that I would have continued without her support and enthusiasm. She also shows up for me at my events even with her busy schedule — she’s a classroom teacher as well as a photographer and painter! And she continually inspires me with her activism and community service. @artbyfarahmithani on Instagram.

Instagram: @paper.autumn

Image Credits
Cory Cook