Chloe McCarrick at The Other Art Fair LA Spring 2023. Image courtesy of the artist.
What better way to celebrate International Women's Day than by sharing the work of an artist who is dedicated to honoring extraordinary women throughout history? I'm beyond thrilled to introduce you to Chloe McCarrick, a British artist whose work shines a light on forgotten female pioneers who made remarkable contributions to natural history and science. The first time I saw her art, I was instantly captivated by its striking beauty, but when I discovered the powerful stories behind each piece and her meticulous cyanotype process, my admiration grew even deeper. Her pieces are instantly recognizable—elegant, blue-hued portraits of trailblazing women who have shaped our world for the better.
With a background in fine art, photography, and printmaking, Chloe's career has been nothing short of remarkable. She has exhibited internationally, from London and Paris to New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong, and her work is held in private and public collections, including the permanent heritage collection of Le Salon Des Beaux Arts in Paris. Recognized as a rising star by Saatchi Art and The Crafts Council UK, she has captivated audiences with her unique ability to merge traditional photographic techniques with contemporary innovation.
I couldn't be happier to share Chloe's story with you all today—her art is not only visually stunning but carries a message of resilience, empowerment, and the enduring legacy of women who deserve to be remembered.
Chloe McCarrick, "Beatrix's Fantastical World Study." Inspired by English author Beatrix Potter. Image courtesy of the artist. Click here to buy directly from artist's website.
Please tell us about your background and what inspired you to become an artist.
My journey into the world of art began with an early fascination for art, science, and technology, deconstructing and reconstructing objects to understand their workings, sparked by a "build it yourself" camera kit I received at age six. This curiosity evolved into a passion for photography, nurtured by countless hours spent in libraries, absorbing knowledge about art, history, and creative techniques.Â
Creative expression combined with scientific thinking was always encouraged in my life, allowing me to experiment with various mediums and crafts, ultimately shaping my expertise and personal style. This foundation led me to pursue formal studies in Fine Art, specializing in Lens and Time Based Media, Art History, Life Drawing, and Film Studies, and later, a BA honors degree in photography at Manchester School of Art. The university's emphasis on self-directed study and experimentation was instrumental in developing my unique artistic voice. After graduating from university, I lectured in photography and interactive media. I worked in further/higher education for almost eight years before embarking on a full-time career as a practicing and exhibiting artist upon relocating to London.
Chloe McCarrick working on the Wings of Courage. Inspired by explorer of the skies, Bessie Coleman. Image courtesy of the artist.
What does a day in your life as an artist look like?
As an artist, my days are a blend of creativity, research, and hands-on work. I divide my time between London, Paris, and California, blending the essence of these places with the stories of the women I honor. Right now, I'm based in Paris for three months, continuing my research for new pieces and drawing inspiration from the city's rich artistic and cultural heritage.
In Paris, I focus more on the research side of my work, I'm energized by its vibrant, creative atmosphere, while London's historical depth always pulls me into its stories. In London, I often start with a visit to the British Library or the Wellcome Collection, immersing myself in historical research and scientific exploration. This is crucial for the development of ideas and narratives in my artwork.Â
Image courtesy of Chloe McCarrick
In California, the days are slower, bathed in golden light, offering a deep connection to nature. It provides me with the perfect conditions to develop most of my cyanotypes. I can rely on clear skies and often work outdoors, letting the light guide me. The high UV index speeds up the development time for the cyanotype images. I fell in love with California—it has a softer energy, almost muted, but the light there has a way of breathing life into everything. The sun and the landscape always seem to find their way into my work. The pace of life in each location shapes how I work.Â
In London, I adapt to the unpredictable light and weather conditions. Working from a traditional studio and darkroom space, I focus on the delicate, practical aspects of creating collages that serve as the foundation layers, developing photographs in the darkroom, which are incorporated into my base negatives.Â
In my studio, I engage in the meticulous process of creating cyanotypes, carefully preparing and exposing papers to UV light, and then watching the magic of the Prussian blue hues emerge. I also spend time hand-finishing pieces with metallic and gold leaf and experimenting with different substrates. The day is a continuous interplay between artistic creation and contemplation, as I transform inspirations from female history and natural science into visual narratives.
I feel so lucky that my career takes me to such magical, inspiring places. Each one has its own rhythm, its own unique beat, and I love being able to channel that into my art.
Chloe McCarrick, "The Golden Age of Aeronautics Katherine's Road Map to the Moon." Inspired by NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. Image courtesy of the artist. Click here to buy directly from artist's website.
Your art is inspired by influential women from history, such as NASA mathematician. Katherine Johnson, for example. At what point in your career did you decide that your work will pursue the themes of female empowerment and forgotten heroes in the fields of ​​natural history and science?
The decision to focus my work on themes of female empowerment and forgotten heroes from history and science was a gradual evolution, rooted in my deep admiration for trailblazing women and their often-unsung contributions. This thematic focus crystallized during my time as a photography and interactive media lecturer, where I recognized the power of visual storytelling for educating and inspiring students. My dedication to highlighting the achievements and struggles of extraordinary women, like NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, stems from a desire to start conversations that honor their legacies and bring their stories to the forefront of cultural narratives, using my art as a vehicle for change and strengthening recognition.
Artwork inspired by ancient warrior, Queen Boudicca. Image courtesy of Chloe McCarrick.
When working on a new exhibition, how do you decide which historical female figure(s) you will reference in your work?
Selecting historical female figures for my exhibitions is an intricate process that intertwines personal resonance, historical significance, and narrative potential. I immerse myself in extensive research, delving into the lives, achievements, and challenges of various women. My choices are often inspired by their pioneering spirit in fields traditionally dominated by men, their contributions to science and natural history, and the compelling nature of their stories.Â
My art is devoted to exploring human relationships, storytelling and symbolism by constructing biographical portraiture of these inspirational female figures. I hope my visual storytelling ignites imaginations and rouses a curiosity to discover more about the lives of these remarkable women. I want people to feel connected, connected to their stories and to notice the unnoticed.
The decision is also influenced by the current cultural and social climate, aiming to create art that is not only historically informative but also relevant and thought-provoking to contemporary audiences. In a nutshell, I choose subjects whose stories and experiences excite me to want to learn more about their lives and share that with the world.Â
Chloe McCarrick, "Flyology ,The Language of Lovelace 3D." Inspired by computer programmer Ada Lovelace. Image courtesy of the artist. Click here to buy directly from artist's website.
You embrace and develop innovative ways of reworking photographic images through collage and mixed-media print techniques by blending science, darkroom alchemy, and art. Can you talk to us more about this truly unique process?
My unique portraits have a distinctive painterly characteristic made by embracing technological advances in large-scale negative printing whilst staying true to the purest and earliest forms of photographic techniques. I examine complex interactions between human experience, environment, materials used, light, and time combined with deconstructing and reconstructing images to create intriguing surrealistic stories. By reworking photographic images through collage and mixed-media print techniques, these layered narratives explore the intersection between art, science, and darkroom alchemy.Â
I was interested in utilizing my fine art training alongside my photographic expertise, so I researched innovative ways of combining them and experimenting with photographic portraiture and image making as a process built up of multiple layers, artistic techniques, and materials rather than just standard film photography and analog printing methods.
I focused on using cyanotypes after revisiting my research on British botanist and photographer Anna Atkins. Atkins used cyanotypes to document algae specimens for her scientific reference books and in the process established photography as an accurate medium for scientific illustration. It's a fitting tribute to use a light sensitive process pioneered by a female scientist and fellow photographer in creating my series of inspirational ladies. To convey the complexities of time, light, space and reveal experience, it was perfect to use a combination of traditional image making techniques with the added use of modern technology.Â
Image courtesy of Chloe McCarrick
I like to be as hands-on as possible when creating my pieces, celebrating every stroke, every mark made, every layer added, every material used, and every texture uncovered. It all becomes a part of the human visual narrative built over time from conscious thought and personalized by touch. Taking a rather scientific, deconstructive approach to realizing a piece of work, stripping each process and technical element down to the bare bones. I like to be aware of how things work, evolve, and interact to capture what the naked eye cannot see. By exploring the basic elements of historical image making, particularly cameraless photography, and cyanotypes, I wanted to push the boundaries of how we view photographic portraiture in the modern analog and digital realms.Â
It starts with the creation of cyanotypes, an alternative photographic process, where I apply a light-sensitive solution to surfaces and expose them to UV light. By exposing to the elements of sun, rain, snow, and water over time, the process captures and recordings Mother Nature in all her glory, creating artworks using her power fits perfectly with the feminine message and motifs within my work. It is a marriage of natural phenomena and the artist's intent, harmonizing the natural and human worlds. I became more aware of how I wished to use these experiments and research within my pieces as a metaphor and a commemoration of mother nature and science's astounding power.Â
The blending of traditional photographic techniques with contemporary technologies and the use of Prussian blue cyanotypes give my work a dreamlike quality. I then incorporate elements of hand-cut collage, enhancing images with metallic and gold leaf, and stitch or papercut details. This multidisciplinary approach allows me to create layered, surrealistic portraits that delve beyond mere representation, capturing the essence and spirit of my subjects.
Close Up Cutting Beatrix potter pieces. Image courtesy of Chloe McCarrick.
Is there a material that's integral to your work?
A material integral to my work is handmade paper, which forms the very canvas of my creations. Its unique texture, weight, and the way it responds to the cyanotype chemicals and additional materials like gold leaf and metallic elements are central to the visual and tactile quality of my art.Â
Handmade paper represents my deep connection between art, nature, and tradition. It stands in contrast to mass production, celebrating the craftsmanship and environmental consciousness of using sustainable, recycled materials. For me, creating handmade paper is a mindful and meditative process—a collaboration with nature rather than exploitation. The unique textures, imperfections, and organic warmth of handmade paper are not just a surface but an integral part of my art.Â
In the looming age of AI, I believe that having a physical connection to the artwork through the act of handcrafting is more important than ever. And it's not just about the craft; it's about telling stories—stories that deserve to be remembered.
Anna Atkins, "Polypodium Phegopteris" (1853). Image courtesy of MoMa.
Final question, if you could acquire any piece of art (from a dead or living artist, could be off the market in a museum, etc.), what would it be and why?
If I could acquire any piece of art, it would be a work by Anna Atkins, who is often considered the first female photographer and a pioneer in the use of cyanotypes. Her botanical illustrations, created using the cyanotype process, not only hold historical significance in the realms of both art and science but also resonate deeply with my own artistic practice. Owning a piece by Atkins would be a profound connection to the origins of my chosen medium, a tribute to her legacy, and a source of endless inspiration in my continuous journey as an artist.
Also I would love to have a Francesca Woodman piece in my collection. She was an extraordinary photographer and an exceptional visual storyteller with an ability to convey complex emotions and narratives through a single frame. Her hauntingly beautiful work continues to captivate me every time I see them in person.
Woodman seamlessly blended vulnerability, surrealism, and symbolism, using her own body and everyday spaces as her primary tools. Her mastery of light, shadow, and composition creates a dreamlike quality inviting viewers to engage deeply with her images. Through subtle gestures, props, and her interaction with the environment, she evoked themes of identity, impermanence, and transformation, leaving her work open to endless imaginative interpretation. Her photographs transcend mere documentation, becoming poetic, layered visual narratives that resonate on a deeply personal and universal level.
Stay up-to-date with the artist here:
Instagram: @chloe_mccarrick_fine_art
Website: www.chloemccarrick.com
Hello! I want to underscore the importance of transparency in my work. I maintain no affiliations with the artists or galleries showcased in this interview, and I do not gain financially from any resulting sales through the provided links. My ethical stance extends to not accepting money from artists for features, as I firmly believe in recognizing talent based on merit rather than financial incentives.
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XX Jenny