Artist Spotlight: Aileen Chen

Each month, we highlight one of the talented artists in our reuse community. This month, it’s textile artist, Aileen Chen!

Aileen has been an artist her whole life, with a common thread throughout of searching for charm in the unexpected.  She takes reuse to a new level, finding joy in turning the discarded into the purposeful. 

1. When did you start upcycling textiles into home goods?

One late night a couple of years back, while admiring gorgeously styled homes in the rabbit hole that Instagram could be, I struggled with the desire to own those beautiful objects for my home and my desire to minimize, simplify, and lessen my family’s environmental impact. I felt it was natural to want to beautify our spaces, create ambience, and convey our values and styles through architecture, art, objects. I wondered though, whether there could be alternative, more environmentally friendly ways to meet those human desires.

Growing up, I was taught to value reuse and maximize the use of objects I possessed. I’ve always loved interior design and architecture, and believed that one’s physical environment can have a profound impact on how one feels and operates within it. Having worked in the consumer products industry, I also understood the unfortunate waste in manufacturing and in the high product return rates that result in even more waste. I wanted to figure out how to bring more sustainability into the activities I did and the things I bought. This all led me to the idea of creating well-designed, functional home goods products and accessories that I’d want to buy, but making them with upcycled materials to lessen the burden on our planet.

Last year, after finding an array of gorgeous fabric materials from ACR and learning more about this significant “waste” stream of fabric samples from showrooms and design firms all over the country, I started playing with the materials and reimagining what they could become. I challenged myself to alter people’s perception of “waste” and turn something unwanted into something coveted. I gave the goods the label of “REVISION GOODS”, because I hoped people would re-envision such materials, not as trash but as resources to be revised and renewed into something beautiful and functional. I started creating and market-testing my own designs, and am now also working with a few other local talented artisans to co-create upcycled products along a similar aesthetic, using other materials.

2. Which aspect of creating is your favorite?

I love all parts of it! But, my favorite is seeing a concept materialize into something cohesive and aesthetically pleasing as I mix and match, test and tweak. I get excited seeing a piece come together, and feel a lot of satisfaction in transforming “waste” materials into something joyful and useful.

3. Where do you get your inspiration?

I find inspiration in my surroundings and on travels – in nature’s structures, colors and patterns, as well as in the ingenuity of man-made structures, ancient and modern. I also frequently browse National Geographic and architectural and design magazines/websites, and am particularly drawn to minimalism in nature and in art/architecture.

4. What is your preferred way to engage with your audience?

I am still very new at it, but I started an Instagram account last year as a way to show my work and seek feedback. Late last year, I started doing a few markets like ACR’s Holiday Reuse Market. Markets are now my favorite – I love being able to talk with people, understand what resonates with them, figure out ways to improve, and connect with other creators. I’m so grateful for all the invaluable feedback and cool ideas and suggestions, and all the support which fuel me to keep trying and creating.

5. How does reuse play a part in your creativity?

I have been creating art throughout my life, in ebbs and flows through different chapters. Looking back, the thread throughout seems to be my search for charm in the unexpected, with some of my high school and college work using unwanted materials to renew them and to challenge people’s perception of beauty and value. Once I became a mom, my kids and I have been regularly creating art and crafts at home, leveraging shipping boxes, leftover textiles, and other unwanted materials.

My recent work continues to challenge myself to use “waste” for creating pieces that one would pause to admire. Besides the upcycled home goods using textiles, I created a piece last year called “Gestalt” that was chosen for The People’s Gallery, an exhibit in Austin’s City Hall starting this summer. Inspired by the style of American sculptor Louise Nevelson, this piece sought to change the viewer’s perception of “waste”. Using product packaging and other objects slated for recycling or disposal, I sought order in their composition and surfaced their basic shapes by making them monochrome (black). It felt very meaningful to see the materials change from disorder to a unified whole, from “waste” into a piece worth its own spotlight. (See photo below.)

6. What compels you to donate to ACR?

It truly takes a village to make reuse more commonplace and accessible, and ACR has done such an incredible job in building this community and center to achieve that, while diverting tons from the landfill. I am grateful for all the beautiful materials I’ve procured at the center, and have loved meeting and learning from all the staff and volunteers. So many people have worked tirelessly throughout the years to build ACR and grow its impact. I want to do what I can to continually support ACR’s mission.

7. Do you have a favorite ACR find? How did you use it?

There have been so many great finds! One of my favorites is a gorgeous navy blue velvety upholstery fabric with a subtle pattern, which I used for making two pillow covers. I paired it with a dark blue denim (for contrast and variety) and gold zippers to make lush pillow covers that can really elevate a space. Another find is a little bobbin winding gadget that has saved me a lot of time.

8. Where can we find out more about your work?

Right now, the best way to see my creations and updates is on Instagram @nowasteinnature, or at an upcoming ACR Reuse Market! I’m launching my website (www.revisiongoods.com) around August, so please stay tuned!

“Gestalt”