Artists' Interview: Amy Lin

For a couple of years now I've been advising readers who are art collectors to buy Amy Lin. Coming from a dude who gets paid to advise three major art collectors on what to buy, that should count for something. Lin is a very talented and exceptional young artist; but there are loads of those around. So what makes this young DC area artist so special? She has received tremendous critical accolades from the press in nearly all her shows and her past exhibitions have almost all sold out. In that spirit we asked her a few of our standard questions:

DC: Who or what has been your biggest influence as an artist?

The drawings for my upcoming show "Kinetics" [at Addison/Ripley in Georgetown] have connections to scientific concepts including energy, motion, and genetics. But on another level they have a human quality and can be seen as people or societies.

DC: What are some of the challenges or mistakes that you have experienced as an artist and what did you learn from it?

One of the challenges I’ve had was that I didn’t go to art school so I didn’t have any formal training or know very many people in the art world to ask for advice. I’ve been trying to learn as much as possible along the way and am very thankful to everyone who has curated me into a show, written about my work, or come to see a show!

DC: What key event, or person, if any, has attributed the most to your success or progress as an artist so far?

My first solo show was a big milestone. I had been in several group shows before, but this was the first time I had created a cohesive body of work and concept for the drawings.

DC: What advice would you give to emerging artists?

I would tell other emerging artists to believe in their art and stay true to it regardless of whether other people like it or not. It’s normal to get lots of rejections.

DC: Who is your favorite DC area artist?

Mary Coble is one of my favorites. When I first moved to the DC area she was one of the first artists I learned about...Her work is smart and interesting.

DC: Anything coming up in the near future for you?

My next solo show “Kinetics” opens on Saturday March 13, 5-7pm at Addison/Ripley Fine Art. And I’m in a group show “On/Off the Grid” that is at Irvine Contemporary through March 20.

Amy Lin Synthesis

You can visit Amy's website here or become one of her fans on Facebook here.