Inside the Studio: Process, Presence, and Why Context Matters

Art Connex U Zine — Issue 02

At Art Connex U, we’re always returning to one simple idea: where art is made matters just as much as what is made. A studio, a kitchen table, a shared workspace, or even a temporary setup all carry stories. They hold experiments, revisions, interruptions, and moments of clarity. In this second Zine installment, we’re talking about process—not as theory, but as something lived, ongoing, and deeply human.

Process Isn’t Extra — It’s Central

Process often gets treated like an afterthought, something explained once the work is finished. But for most artists, process is the work. The materials you return to, the way you move through time, the limits of space or budget—these things quietly shape every decision.

When artists talk about process openly, something interesting happens. Viewers lean in. The work becomes more accessible without losing depth. Knowing how something came to be doesn’t remove the mystery—it gives it weight.

Why Being “On Location” Changes Everything

There’s a noticeable difference between talking about your work in a neutral space and talking about it where it actually happens. Tools lying around, works in progress, notes taped to the wall—these details say a lot.

Artists often speak more comfortably and honestly in their own environments. And for audiences, it feels real. Less polished, more grounded. That’s why Art Connex U prioritizes interviews that meet artists where they are, rather than asking them to step into a generic frame.

Visibility Without the Pressure to Perform

We all feel it—the push to constantly post, polish, and present a perfect version of practice online. But visibility doesn’t have to mean performing.

A thoughtful interview or studio visit can do a lot of quiet work over time. It can live on your website, be shared with curators or collectors, and serve as a snapshot of where you are right now. No algorithms. No daily upkeep. Just a clear record of your voice and your work.

A Growing, Living Archive

Art Connex U is slowly building an archive—not just of finished works, but of conversations, spaces, and moments in artists’ practices. Together, these stories reflect what contemporary art actually looks like: varied, local, evolving, and shaped by real-life conditions.

Months or years from now, these interviews become touchstones. For artists, they’re a way to look back. For audiences, they’re a way to connect beyond images alone.

Geoffrey Darwent

Founder of Art Connex U

Art Connex U celebrate and support all the art categories in our community by providing a space where creativity can shine and connections can flourish.