There is no right way to create art or an art career. I am a self-taught photographer and installation artist. In the beginning, I was always concerned I was lighting things wrong or creating my website wrong. Turns out my work is different because I didn’t know what I was doing, and that’s a good thing. I eventually realized that my unique approach to art is what sets me apart and makes my work stand out.
As a part of our series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist” I had the pleasure of interviewing Adrien Broom.
Adrien Broom, an award-winning photographer, set designer, and filmmaker based in NYC and Connecticut, creates large scale, handcrafted sets for her photographs that transport viewers to fantastical realms. Her unique aesthetic, informed by her childhood in the woods of Lyme, CT, and extensive education in Florence and London, blends the feel of classical paintings with contemporary media. Broom’s captivating works, featured in exhibitions worldwide, push the boundaries between reality and imagination, showcasing the power of traditional techniques in a digital age.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in the charming, woodsy town of Lyme, CT, nestled near the shore in Connecticut. America’s first artist colony is there, so there are a lot of artists and a deep appreciation for the arts that I grew up surrounded by. My father is a builder whose love is restoring antique houses, giving them a second life while honoring the soul of each place. My mother is a beautifully creative woman with a love for nature and gardening, and managed an art gallery.
School was never my strong suit, but I always found confidence and enjoyment in art classes. My connection to otherworldly art has been there since before I can remember, like a thread woven through my life. My family always supported and nurtured this passion in me. As our family structure changed, I went through a rebellious and confused adolescence, but creating art remained a constant, guiding me through those turbulent times. I always found myself in creating work.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
Even though I have always been drawn to the arts, photography never occurred to me until a pivotal moment in my life. I was going through the worst heartbreak of my life. I moved in with my mother and lost my job at the time. I had a very hard time finding myself and joy in anything. During this dark period, some dear friends who were in a band extended a lifeline. They told me to come on the road with them and that I could sell merch or take photos, just that “you have to get out of the house.” I ultimately chose to take photos and at the first show, I was there with the lights and the music trying to capture it all. It was the first time I felt a genuine spark of happiness in many months and I never looked back. The subject matter has changed over time, but the joy I still feel when I’m behind the camera remains as strong as ever.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Covid. It’s a lesson I’m still learning from. Right before Covid, I was the busiest I’ve ever been. I shot an ad campaign for Amex and Badgley Mischka in the same month while being a creative director for a massive installation experience company and creating my own work. Then Covid happened. I got Covid day one of lockdown in New York City when it was a scary place and a very scary diagnosis. We went to the Cape since I may have needed to go to the hospital and they were overrun in NYC. After I recovered, we found ourselves living in a tiny cottage on Cape Cod. My boyfriend at the time (now husband) encouraged me to turn our main living space into one of my installations and to just create work during that challenging time.
I loved it. I loved creating work for no one other than myself and my sanity. It became a lifeline and a way to process the emotions and experiences of that difficult period. I built a swamp installation and created a narrative where the curtains came to life and enveloped us. I collaborated with a textile artist in Italy who sent me a 3ft grasshopper she made and used myself as the subject in my work which I never do. It was such a reminder that creating work for myself can really save me from… myself, and bring a spark of joy back even in the most dark and terrifying times. The Pandemic taught me the invaluable lesson that nurturing my creative passion is not only important for my career but also for my mental well-being.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I’m currently working on a series that I’ve been developing for the past 7 years which revolves around the homes of famous artists and writers. It’s a project that I’m truly passionate about and I have a solo exhibition next year at the Mark Twain Museum where this work will be displayed. The series has a very cinematic quality to it as I create narratives with actors in the spaces where these creative visionaries once lived. The show will include immersive narratives photographed in the homes of luminaries such as Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, Edward Hopper, Louis Armstrong, and many others. It’s a labor of love that allows me to explore the intimate environments that shaped these iconic figures and to invite viewers into a dialogue with their legacies.
On a different note, I’ve been venturing into the world of conceptual portraiture. It’s an innovative form of portraiture that beautifully fuses my love for storytelling with the transformative power of installation art. Through close collaboration with my clients, I create immersive spaces that represent their unique narratives and aspirations. My team and I transform their homes into bespoke art installations, meticulously crafting every detail to evoke a sense of wonder and personal resonance. The final step is to photograph my clients within these dreamlike environments, capturing the essence of their stories in a single, unforgettable image. It’s an exciting journey that pushes the boundaries of traditional portraiture, and I’m absolutely in love with the creative possibilities it offers.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
Honestly, some of the most interesting people I interact with are my friends’ and families’ children when they come onto one of my sets. They ask questions and create their own narratives that I never would have thought of in a million years. It’s imagination with no boundaries. My goal is to tap into that space with my work, and hearing about how the flower grew out of the toast and ate everyone at the breakfast table, just to go to school and get an A on its test that day, is both interesting, hilarious, and inspiring!
Where do you draw inspiration from? Can you share a story about that?
I draw inspiration from anywhere it comes from. I love different art mediums that my own and from the natural world.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
My work is based on fantastical ideas of joy and wonder. My hope is that when people immerse themselves in what I’m creating, they feel a spark of that. And if I can bring a bit of joy and wonder to anyone I would feel very grateful and content.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1. There is no right way to create art or an art career. I am a self-taught photographer and installation artist. In the beginning, I was always concerned I was lighting things wrong or creating my website wrong. Turns out my work is different because I didn’t know what I was doing, and that’s a good thing. I eventually realized that my unique approach to art is what sets me apart and makes my work stand out.
2. If an idea seems a little too out there or you don’t think people will get it, that’s what you should lean into.
3. Carefully choose the people you work with. It won’t just affect your work, it will affect your life and happiness.
4. Collaboration is the best creative elixir. I learned this early on. My work became remarkably better with more depth when I collaborated with other artists and we worked together to bring an idea I had to fruition.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask but also put your heart into it. When I was starting out, there were countless people and venues I dreamed of working with. I’ve learned that it’s always worth reaching out, even if you’re unsure. The worst that can happen is a polite “no,” but you might be surprised by who says “yes” or points you in an exciting new direction. However, simply asking isn’t enough. To truly capture someone’s interest, you need to craft a thoughtful, heartfelt request that showcases your vision and communicates why partnering with them would be so meaningful to you. When you can articulate your passion and express a genuine desire to work with someone, doors start to open. People can sense when an ask comes from an authentic place, so don’t hesitate to reach out to those you admire, but do it with care, intention, and vulnerability. You never know where a sincere, well-crafted ask might lead you.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
This is a hard one. There is so much we could do to make the world a better place. I have a meditation practice that I do every morning. It is a calming moment of quiet to get grounded and help with negative thoughts or energies that I am experiencing. It helps me go off into my day feeling a bit calmer and grounded. I wonder how much our world would change if everyone went into their day with this feeling. I’m guessing it would lead to more compassion, kindness, and openness to listening to other people’s points of view. If everyone were to take this time for themselves every day, I think we would see a shift in how people treat each other on a regular basis. That is such a small thing, but perhaps this simple first step would shift the mindset, just a little.
We have been blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she just might see this.
Since we are dreaming, I’ll give you my dream for both the past and present. For the past, it would be the ever-magical and wonderful Jim Henson. I would love to have lunch with him and just listen to everything he has to say. His creativity, imagination, and ability to bring joy to people through his work have always been a huge inspiration to me.
For the present, it would be either Gregory Crewdson, Tim Walker, Tim Burton, or Greta Gerwig. Each of these individuals has been a massive influence on me and I admire them beyond words. Crewdson’s deeply moving cinematic photography, Walker’s whimsical and surreal images, Burton’s unique storytelling and visual style, and Gerwig’s feminine, and honest approach to filmmaking have all played a significant role in shaping my artistic vision. Having the opportunity to sit down with any one of them and gain insights into their creative processes and experiences would be an absolute dream come true.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
Readers can follow me on social media via Instagram @adrienbroom!
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Adrien Broom: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.