Kristin is a maximalist artist based out of Portland, Oregon. She’s inspired by 60’s psychedelic prints and y2k glitz and glam. She lives by the motto “be anything but boring.”
How and when did your brand and creative journey come to life?
During the pandemic, my passion for murals exploded. I purchased a new condo and had plenty of free time, so I spent every weekend creating and painting each room. Like many of us creatives, I can credit TikTok for bringing my work to a wider audience! I’ve dreamt of sharing my murals with my followers and was so excited to partner with Otto Studio to do just that.
Tell us about your biz.
I am a maximalist creator that makes home DIY and thrifted fashion content. You can find me on TikTok at @thriftymaximalist and Instagram at @thrifty.maximalist.
Tell us about your career highlights!
Making this wallpaper line has truly been one of the most exciting highlights in my creative career! I love sharing my art with the world and can’t wait to see how people will style the patterns in their fabulous homes.
What inspires you on a day-to-day basis?
I feel so inspired by my maximalist home. I love being able to look at any corner and see a funky wallpaper or a piece of thrifted art. Something about working surrounded by color invigorates and inspires me!
Tell us a bit about your capsule collection with Otto Studio. What was your inspiration behind these patterns?
My style is a mix of psychedelic retro vibes with y2k glitz and glamor. In this capsule collection, I was so excited to turn some of my painted murals into wallpaper. I also took inspiration from 1960’s floral textiles that were bursting with color and happiness. As a lover of maximalism, I wanted to put out a variety of bold colorways to accompany the wild patterns.
@thriftymaximalist It’s such a dream to be able to see my art in wallpaper form! @Otto Studio
What would your advice be to your younger self, knowing what you know now about your career and journey? And to anyone else who is starting out as a creative?
Don’t take everything so seriously! I used to avoid calling myself an artist because I wasn’t a full time creative.
Once I just let myself lean into the cringe of calling myself an artist, I found putting my work out into the world could just be fun, and not so serious.
Which people or books have had the most influence on your creative growth/inspiration and why?
Peter Max is one of my greatest artistic inspirations! His art truly shaped the entire aesthetic of the 60’s and 70’s. You’ll find a lot of the bright colors and psychedelic vibes that he popularized in my interior design and art.
Talk about one of the biggest failures you’ve had. What did you learn from it?
I think one of my biggest design regrets is investing too much into the trends. While I love a trend, I prefer to use paint, wallpaper, and small accents that could easily be covered if I change my mind a few years down the line.
What does a typical day in your week look like?
You can find me working at my treadmill desk in the day, giving myself a gel manicure after work, and getting dressed up to dance to gay pop all night long.