Rising Stars: Meet Marshn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marshn

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been outwardly expressing my inner world through creative mediums for as long as I can remember. Born from artistic and resourceful parents, I was inspired from a very young age to decorate every space I’d inhabit with whatever I could get my hands on. That very sentiment has led me down many different paths thus far. Some more taboo, but all equally important to the evolution of my style and skillset. From drawing all over desks, walls and myself as an adolescent to getting paid to draw on signs and windows on 4th Avenue and collaborate on murals in different cities. My journey as a multi-disciplined artist has left little to no dull moments with diverse opportunities for growth and I am grateful for all of it. And grateful for another opportunity to speak about it, so thank you!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most things in life, or perhaps my life, the road has been neither entirely smooth nor linear. It’s taken many unexpected twists, turns, and dips. But, the further along I tread I can see all of the gems that were mined from dark places and friends and tools gathered along the way. So I have learned to appreciate the struggle almost as much as the victories. Growing up in a broken family, experiencing death and heavy trauma early on, as well as persistent financial and health struggles posed a lot of challenges to overcome. Lifelong challenges. But also pain that would inform the direction of my work. When supplies for painting and creating were too expensive, I learned how to use what was around. That often looked like painting and drawing on old pieces of wood from shelves, drawers, and cabinets that my mom and I would find on the side of the road. Using the same frayed, gunked up brushes I got for Christmas years ago and stocking up on 50c bottles of acrylic paints whenever I had $10 to my name. For many years I’ve used my artistic expression as a means to cope with and alchemize intense highs and lows in my personal life. Pushing myself to find new techniques to better translate the images I see in my minds eye took many years and is still at times a struggle. Especially when I lacked a lot of fundamental/traditional training. What I didn’t learn from an art school, I learned from life, tattooing, and graffiti. It’s been a journey of connecting, practicing, and transmuting everything in between which has also come with some of the most beautiful, thrilling, enlightening moments of my life.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist specializing in bold, otherworldly mixed medium paintings, drawings and mural work. My aim with building this collection under the name ‘Miss Marshn’ is to celebrate and document my own adventures, trials and tribulations being a multi-faceted being in an often two dimensional society. A vast array of interests and experience inspire my work including the many muses I’ve found in friends and loved ones. I’m most proud of and grateful for the work that I’ve done in collaboration with peers and friends over the years. Large murals brought to life through the melding of genius minds, funky styles, and diverse backgrounds. I hope to continue to bridge gaps between communities, ignite unity within, and inspire the world to live authentically.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I appreciate how many artists and creatives reside here and the melding of culture. Monsoon season, the sunsets, wildlife, food and historic spaces here inspire me greatly. If I could improve anything, it would be to have greater recognition and opportunities for smaller artists without traditional training and experience. There are so many hidden gems and diamonds tucked away in corporate jobs that I would love to see making a living off of their passions and true talent. Also more creative events put on by the community for the community!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://missmarshn.weebly.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missmarshn/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissMarshn