SUZ PETTIGREW

With the way that creative industry is right now it’s very easy to forget that young women are not only successful within the fashion industry. There seems to be a stereotype for young creative female minds that restrict them to the world of clothing, be it design, styling or writing. Susannah Pettigrew is one of a growing number of under appreciated young successful women that are breaking the mould and making creative super waves in their own way. At just 22, Suz (as most know her) is the director of Art Agency Maxusart Management, an Art Director, Artist Manager and an Artist.

One thing that you must realize about Suz is that she is one of the hardest working people that you’d come across. Her ethos on life is simple, “Work hard. Nothing comes without being determined and working hard for something”. It is this way of thinking that has allowed her to do so much in such a short amount of time. The love she has for what she does is evident from the moment she opens her mouth to talk to you about it. An artist herself, she felt the need to help nurture the community she was a part of and Maxusart Management was born. Under her management she has artist HERO, BATLOW, HENRY OBASI and JEN-ISM to name a few. She has set out to create a support system for artists through the creation of an environment that allows them to continually showcase their work to the public.

“Everyday I feel like I have 10 different personalities, I can be business woman, artist, art director, artist manager, party promoter, photographer and a million other things”. Whichever she chooses to be she is Suzannah Pettigrew, the girl who sees no limits to what she can do refusing to be boxed into any one category.


Who inspired you creatively?

My biggest inspiration is hands down Lee Miller. She excelled in many creative fields, adapting them and making them her own.  Her work and success within the surrealist movement has inspired me greatly. She basically killed it in a male dominated world.

Do you feel young creative women are stereotyped and put into a box these days?

Yeah I do.  Being put into a career genre is inevitable. In turn it allows more room for spectators to criticize. I don’t believe in boundaries –it stunts your creative progression. There should be no limit in how/what/where you experiment.

As a young woman you are a minority within art management. What experiences and advice did you have to venture into a virtual unknown for young women?

I was working in New York for an artist collective and I realized there was a need in the industry for individuals who were willing to represent other artist’s who did not necessarily want to represent themselves or be known to the public but still wanted to have successful artistic careers. So I set out to create a support system for artists, creating an environment that allows them to continually showcase their work to the public.

What are the plans for you and the artists at MaxusArt Management?

I want to keep MaxusArt Management growing at a steady rate. I’m going to be curating two art shows this year – one is a solo show by an artist that I’m working with called Henry Obasi. Another show I’m putting together is a group show for later on in the year. I’m also working very closely with one of my other artists HERO to develop his comic book series. On a personal tip I’ve written 3 briefs for myself to start this year which will involve making pieces using painting, installation, photography and college.

There are a few young women in London making their stamp in the creative field. How does that make you feel as someone trying to achieve such big goals?

It doesn’t make me any less determined to be successful. I concentrate on the success not on the unfortunate lack of recognition for women in creative fields – if anything it pushes me even further!

What is the best thing about your job?

Being able to collaborate with other artistic individuals; constantly meeting new people that you can learn from and be inspired by. The best thing is having the opportunity to create a platform to showcase creative talent.

How do you work creatively in your own work?

You need to be honest with yourself, allowing yourself to experiment. That’s the only way you grow as an artist. I’m constantly influenced and inspired by what’s around me…other artists, friends, the old guy with walking his dog! I’m doing what I love and am passionate about and am making it my life.

What other projects are you involved in?

I host and partly organise a monthly party called Trading Places – our concept was to create an arena for people within different creative industries to be able to network as well as get their party on to sick music. I’m also a founding member of a music / arts collective called the Soda Boys–  I do creative consulting, visual branding and event management within the collective. This is as well as bringing my artists in to do collaborations with the Soda Boys. HERO did an installation in music video for the single 'Everybody Cha Cha’ and he has done some Soda Boys street pieces.

What words of advice do you live by and what words of advice can you pass on?

The best move I made was making my passion for art my life not just something I did. Be as productive as possible with your time, utilize EVERYopportunity you are given and most importantly work hard.

 

INTERVIEW: PATRICIA WILLIAMS
 
www.maxusartmanagement.com

www.myspace.com/sodaboy4ever
 
 
 

 

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