Anthony Amadeo dives into the vibrant world of street art, inspiration, and shiny things with Mary Kathryn Medlock.
AA: MK! We’ve known each other for over a decade now—wild, right?
I’ve always loved our city walks and the way you see the world, constantly exploring and finding inspiration in the everyday. How do those moments influence your work? Are there any places or experiences recently that have sparked something new for you?
MKM: Wow...a decade! It’s amazing how much we have both evolved in our creative endeavours since we met 10 years ago, working that fashion retail hustle.... I love walking the city with you too, and being present in the simplicity everyday, because that “devil wears Prada” career just took so much away from my ability to be grateful for the moment. Not to say that any given day in NYC is “simple” but ya know, getting a coffee and walking 12,000 steps in the concrete jungle is so inspiring, and it’s just all right there waiting to make some magic (or annoyance..lol) for me. I feel like that’s a common thread we share together that’s unique.
My work is highly guided by these experiences I have with NYC and cities across the world, from Tokyo to Cairo, it’s like a color, a sound, or the energy in general I pick up can turn into a Painting. For example, we recently took a trip to Fifth Avenue, to view the iconic windows at Bergdorf Goodman’s and interestly enough some of the main color influences in the windows were colors I have used in recent work. I mean, it’s a coincidence, one might say, but what it signifies to me is that I am on a creative flow that is somehow connected to a signal that’s being broadcast to me, intuitively, and I find satisfaction in that. It means that I truly am absorbing my experiences on a subconscious level and turning them into Art.
AA: Take us into your world of LoveMKM.
It’s more than just street art and painting—it feels like an energy, almost a vibe of its own. How would you describe what LoveMKM is all about? What do you hope people feel when they experience your work?
MKM: Gosh, thanks so much! I really appreciate that! The entire process just really comes from my Heart, so it’s great to receive that feedback! When I started LOVEMKM she was me... but she was her own entity as well. She was living Art, I think you could say. She was the result of who I dreamed I could be, a creative being, colorful and alive. I was sort of saying goodbye to one version of me, and welcoming in a new version that I was trying to be and now I am her.
My street art paste ups are screen printed portraits of me. I found endless inspiration in expressing myself in front the of the camera (your camera, thank you very much 😊) as spirit of a feminine archetype that I felt as an expression of myself (the maiden, the saint, the seductress etc..) and using it for the “Love Yourself” street art campaign. I feel like I will alway use the photos we have taken in my Art, but lately I’ve been way more inspired painting and screenprinting florals.
My Art is a labor of love and transformation. An object of beauty, something that is unique and precious, one of a kind. It’s so colorful and expressive, especially in texture, and I hope in some way people can feel the energetic layers of emotions in the Art and relate it to their own journey.
AA: What keeps you inspired?
Where do you find inspiration when life feels dull? Are there any rituals, crystals, or even certain colors (maybe pink?) that help you recharge your creative energy?
MKM: Ugh, yes.... Inspiration is not always knocking at my door.. lol. When this cycle comes around, I embrace the knowing that I am NOT inspired and I don’t force it or even worse beat myself up about not creating a painting or print. I just kinda say “Okay, I don’t want to create anything! “ I really just dig into ignoring the muse and telling her not to come around.
I do have practice rituals to keep me in some sort of creative flow.. some sort of promise to the Muse.
I do regularly paint on scrap paper. Last winter, when I had my studio still, I took some discarded archival paper mis printed on one side, turned it over, painted hundreds of small floral works on paper. They became some of my favorite pieces and I’ve sold quite a few.
I do actually turn to the color Pink as a starting point when I just need to get something on paper or canvas, I just love it so much, and I have so many tubes of pink acrylics and pigments, it’s just natural I reach for it first when the work needs to flow. I heard someone say once that pink color is an activated high frequency, a kind of angelic color, so it makes sense that it can always spark something out of me.
AA: Feeling creative on the inside and turning it into something tangible—that’s magic.
What’s your process like when an idea strikes? How do you take that spark of inspiration and bring it into the physical world?
MKM: Well I just told you what happens when I ignore the Muse, but when I let her shine, when I listen to her urges, it just pours out of me so fast, sometimes I can make a large painting in mere days! It really helps to always have blank canvas and archival papers on hand, so it’s available for the calling, and that’s the first part of the process. Putting the blank canvas on the table with the media I intend to use, fabrics, crayons, old vintage frames, broken stained glass, screen printed Silk flowers, what have you, but I have already chosen the media before I start the actual creation. The idea can evolve too, the most important thing I can do is allow the flow of creation without judgement. A lot of experimenting and finding out... lol.
AA: Looking back, what’s your favorite piece you’ve ever made?
Is there one that feels the most personal or magical to you? What’s the story behind it?
MKM: I really LOVE Ocean Abstract 1, 2. A large diptych of encaustic Crayola, I created in 2018 after a trip to Puerto Rico with my mentor and a group of fellow spiritual seekers. We were on a magic beach, an island, and we did a channeled meditation that was very transformative for me. I had just started working with these types of modalities, meditation, mindfulness, channeling, energy work, etc..
As soon as I got home from PR I put one 36x36 canvas on the table at my studio, I pulled 100’s of blue Crayons, got my heat gun and I went to work. Ocean Abstract 1 was very chaotic and tumultuous, I used crumpled up gold leaf embedded in the wax, it looked like seaweed tossing in the waves. It was stormy and beautiful. I got a second 36x36 canvas and started No. 2, again more blue crayons, but this time my technique was smooth and very streamlined.. representing the calm that took over me, after a time of unalignment. I love those two paintings the most, they are now living in a collector’s home and I will always remember how special they are.
AA: Where would you like to be creatively in the future?
What’s the dream for MK Medlock and LoveMKM? Are there any mediums you haven’t explored yet that you’d love to dive into, or projects you’re manifesting?
MKM: Since I’m currently choosing not to get a new studio space, I’d really like to take some sewing classes, maybe learn how to quilt. I’m not super skilled with laying patterns and sewing, but I would love to be. It’s in my blood for sure, my Dad’s mother was a wonderful seamstress, and I grew up playing with fabric scraps in her sewing room while her machine hummed away.
Future projects I’d like to manifest... My long term goal with LOVEMKM is to do more creatively directed commercial projects. I would absolutely love to work with a Hotel Interiors or a Fashion Brand collaboration. I even have played around with the idea of purchasing a property I can theme out as a LOVEMKM house and AirBnb it. If you love Pink, Florals, and Pops of color everywhere you’d love to stay in my AirBnb..lol.
AA: Let’s get interactive—this is all about creative energy, after all!
If you could create a quick piece to represent your current energy, what would it look like? Draw or paint something simple that captures how you’re feeling today—think colors, shapes, vibes. Snap a pic and send it over so we can share it with everyone.
MKM: I’ve been playing with this design, one of the last things I screen printed before my studio closed. It was experimental and I didnt know how cool it was going to turn out! This week I’ve been rolling it out on my apartment floor just admiring it and deciding what to do with it. It’s so wild feminine, unstructured, just free from rules... and that vibe is really resonating with me. I’m going to paste it to a canvas and build on the idea of what it wants to be!
AA: Finally, where can people keep up with LoveMKM?
Any exciting projects or drops coming up that we should be watching for?
MKM: lovemkm.com is my Hub! From there you can connect to my IG (@lovemkm) and even sign up to my mailing list which is a great way to find out what shows I’m exhibiting and what I’m creating and selling. Soon I’m participating in my second round of live painting @futureisnowx live stream on IG, and most excitedly I’m gearing up for some travel which always brings inspiration and renewal!