Margaret Fitzgerald has been in the business as a full time creative since the 90’s. She has dozens of exhibitions and publications under her name, with her next solo exhibition at the Susan Eley Gallery in New York City next year. Margaret offers a valuable perspective in a rapidly changing art world and shows us some of her favorite pieces inside her New Mexico studio space.

Hi Margaret— Tell us a little about you!

I was born in London, grew up in Connecticut and moved to New Mexico when I was 18 and stayed. The open landscape felt like home. Growing up I had an older sister that sort of trained me to be an artist. She would set up drawing games and tell me about abstract art. I always had my mind set on being an artist. Of course there have been many twists and turns but abstract painting always pulled me back and challenged me to try again.

What is the creative culture scene like in New Mexico? Do you have any favorite spots? What are some places you feel artists should see and experience if they were to visit?

Site Santa Fe is my favorite museum in New Mexico, it shows high quality national and international exhibitions. But I think the pull here is the rawness and spiritual quality of the land itself. There is an open ended-ness here, an unfinished quality that leaves room for making art.

How would you describe your style, and how did you develop it? Do you think it has evolved, or is currently changing?

I think my work has always been about taking risks and experimentation and saying something about life, the world and whats going on. There is a push and pull between destruction and creation. It’s a process of self editing, covering and revealing information. What changes over time are the influences that go into the work. I think that artwork changes and grows as the artist develops as a person. I can see how my work has evolved from an examination of my internal life to broader interests and concerns looking outward. My work is more influenced by current culture and the political climate than it was in the past.

What is something that you want to get more involved with as a creative?

I have wanted to paint on outdoor walls for a long time. With the pandemic and most things being shut down I’ve had some time to venture out of the studio and do a little experimenting on walls.

I think that everything you try and really everything you do impacts the work. So for me it’s important to try things out of my comfort zone. It helps me keep a freshness to my work.

There is always a nagging feeling of how art can make the world a better place. How I can get involved in creating change is a question I ask myself. I’m still working that out.

How have you witnessed the art world evolve over the last 20 years with the introduction of social media?

The art world now feels like it’s in a constant state of flux. Things seem to change so quickly. I think Instagram and other social media has helped create a short attention span, things come in and out of focus instantly. In some ways this is exciting- the “rules” have been thrown out and it allows, in a strange way, a freedom in the work that may not have existed previously. Also, being exposed to so much new work is a great thing. In the past there was a certain assumption that galleries would represent you for life. They would hang in there as you struggled through different phases of your work. And that seems like a rarity now.

What are some of your more memorable exhibitions and opportunities you’ve participated in?

The solo exhibition I had in NYC at the Heidi Cho gallery was my most memorable show. The large reach the show had and the sheer energy of the city was amazing. But every solo show feels like a big step. Sending a new body of work out into the world is always both memorable and nerve racking.

Which are some of your favorite pieces you’ve created so far?

My favorite work is always what I’m currently working on. I do have favorite paintings from each series that I’ve done . But the current work is what I’m excited about. Being on the edge of discovery and not being certain of the outcome is exciting.

Margaret Fitzgerald: An Artist 20 Years in the Making