Interview: Audrey Beharie-McGee
Luca Curci talks with Audrey Beharie-McGee during ALCHEMIC BODY 2021, at THE LINE Contemporary Art Space, during ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2021, at Medina Art Gallery.

British born Audrey Beharie-McGee is a self-taught emerging fine artist who is also an experienced singer, songwriter, producer and vocal &performing art coach, and photographer who now resides in Atlanta, GA.,USA. Audrey is married to storyboard artist, concept artist and book illustrator, Brian McGee and, together, they have a blended family consisting of four children and five grandchildren. Audrey has always had an enormous vibrant energy which has fueled her creative and artistic pizzazz. From a young age, she was a deep thinker who was always very curious about the world around her. She constantly challenged herself to explore a myriad of interests and would try her hand at various exciting and exhilarating adventures.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Audrey Beharie-McGee – For me, Art is the color wheel of life, an expression of one’s innermost self, where you are permitted to explore all facets of an innate love for creation, articulate the human creative nature and evoke a myriad of emotions and feelings. Art is a progressive learning process that allows your innermost spirit to evaluate the world around it.

LC – What’s your background?
ABM – I am a self-taught mixed media/abstract artist who simply has an adoration for all forms of art in its many guises. My background is in the music entertainment industry. I am a singer, songwriter, producer and vocal and performing arts coach with over 40 year’s experience within the business. I find that the freedom and abandonment in the realms of the mixed media movement is very similar to writing a well-honed song which encompasses all the subtle parts -verse, bridge, and chorus – to create a beautiful ballad or soulful tune! When spirit, body, soul, and creativity are in union – then the magic and beauty happen!

LC – Where do you find your inspiration? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
ABM – First and foremost, my primary inspirations come from the plethora for incredible artist that allow my imagination to soar and have shined their creative genius and light to harness my own emerging creative attributes. The incredible, innovative, thought-provoking, and inspiring artists who paved the way before us have allowed me to examine and appreciate all the different forms of art – from baroque, classical, impressionists, cubist, art deco, fauvism to modern day pop art, conceptual, mixed media, and abstract art and given me the confidence to pull these elements into my own work.For me, every vista that I see opens in my creative vision as I attempt to breakdown the natural values, hues and textures that are so readily available to transform into something wonderful and beautiful. I believe that coming one with my “child-like” spirit enables me to not think too seriously about myself but enjoy the experience and journey. My aim is to see beauty, spiritual communication, and coherency through the art that I am viewing and with the pieces that I will create. However, there are times when I am touched on so many levels that I become overwhelmed and in jeopardy of losing my own self. But, with God’s grace, I eventually find myself back on the right path which enables me to continue my voyage.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
ABM – As I am an emerging artist, I am blessed to be in a position where, as I evolve, I am still discovering new and exciting facets in my art pieces and finding myself as an artist. With the advent of the internet, social media, online sales platforms, TV, and internet streaming services, as well as
galleries like ITSLIQUID and everything that this world holds on the technological platforms, I feel that it is a great time for artists like myself to take advantage of the “cyber space” opportunities to be seen on a worldwide stage.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
ABM – My style went through a metamorphosis from the beginning of my journey until now. For the first couple of years, I truly struggled to get to grips with who I was as an artist. I doubted myself for several reasons and was extremely insecure with my work, not wanting to show them to anyone but my husband, Brian. There were many times when I tried to model myself on other artist and take on a similar style of their workmanship. However, unfortunately but “fortunately” my pieces never quite ending up being close to those that I was looking to emulate, and I now see this as a blessing and the BEST thing that could have happened in my evolution as an artist as it allowed GOD’S gift to manifest itself through me. I developed a sense of carefree abandon, which culminated in a pride and love for the work that I started to produce. My husband’s support for my efforts were always encouraging, and one of the most valuable advice he would give is “just have fun”. And my “happy mistakes” allowed me to enjoy a new sense of freedom and appreciation for the artwork that I was bringing into being.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? How did it inspire you?
ABM – I’ve always wanted to be associated with the team at ITSLIQUID because they have a belief and mission to give an amazing platform for artist of all disciples, experience and genres who are seeking to be able to present their creations to an international audience.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the festival’s theme?
ABM – My artwork collection is called “Soulism”. I am also a photography who loves fashion photography, headshot photography and landscape. The resonance of collection took me through a journey of analyzing the energy of mixed media and abstract artistry, feeling and being a part of the organic and natural process of recognizing the passion and spiritual consciousness of the pieces that I am creating, and performing them with elements of natural fabrications, colors, media, and emotions. And through the combination of mixed media, collage, and abstract artwork, I was able to conceptualize my creation utilizing original photography to create a hybridized collection which mirrors the human emotion – Fire: The ignition orchestrated by The Creator at conception of life. Air: The primary element which sustains the human life. Water: Which makes up around 60% of the human body, and Earth: The element that gives us life, sustenance and a place for our existence, and the place where we will ultimately return to when our life on this Earth is over, and we make our return to the Creator.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
ABM – I truly enjoyed being a part of ITSLIQUID and thank the amazing team – Amaride, Giulia, Francesca, Massimiliano, and Valentina – who have made me feel so welcomed and helped and supported me every step of the way with my preparation process. I believe that ITSLIQUID has the capability to represent artist of all levels and experience and really make a positive difference in their lives. I am especially impressed at their enthusiasm and openness to engage new and emerging artist such as myself who are looking for a reputable, professional platform to present their works.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
ABM – The ITSLIQUID platform is an amazing place for established artist and emerging artists like me, who want to have the opportunity to be seen by an international audience.