Emily Quinn in Conversation with Artist Kristin Konefal
Kristin Konefal, an American artist based in Miami, Florida, first gained recognition for her pop culture-inspired, collage-based works shared on social media. Her dynamic and versatile skill set across various mediums has opened numerous artistic opportunities, including her recent exhibition of Bleau Boards at the Fontainebleau during Art Basel and her artwork featured as the cover of Italian DJ and producer Joseph Capriati's recent single.
In this exclusive MADE IN BED interview, Konefal discusses exploring new paths by collaborating on the importance and focus of music in her work, building on the significant online following she garnered early in her career. Konefal also explores the modern art market from a social media perspective, highlighting how these platforms have allowed her to exhibit her artwork to broader audiences, enhance her connectivity, and expand her sales. Together, we examined the macro-scale impact of social media on the art world, emphasizing how evolving platforms enhance the way art is exhibited and creates new opportunities for artists.
Kristin Konefal, Disclosure - She’s Gone Dance On, 2024. Photo Courtesy: Kristin Konefal
Emily Quinn: Could you tell me about your educational journey in the arts or other formative artistic experiences during your career that have led to your success today?
Kristin Konefal: I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Creative Advertising from the University of Miami. I always loved art from the time I was a very young child. In high school, I shied away from declaring art as my major in fear of the stereotypes I’d heard about it being a risky career path. However, I did launch my art business the summer after graduating high school and started to grow that as much as I could. I loved the fact that I was earning income from my art and that people actually wanted to buy my work—I remember vividly how thrilled I was every time I could drop off a piece and see how happy it made the buyer. I knew then that no matter what I did as my “main” career, I would always have my art business on the side. I came to the University of Miami as a Psychology major, and soon after switched to Creative Advertising. I truly loved my advertising work and felt like I was maximizing my creative potential with it. I picked up skills in graphic design and creative direction. I added Studio Art as an additional major my junior year.
EQ: As an artist with a degree in an alternate field, could you provide an overview of your work experience within the art world? Have you been involved in gallery exhibitions, artist collaborations, or other professional artistic engagements that have shaped and influenced your career trajectory?
KK: I honestly have little experience working within the actual “art world” itself. Most of my work experience was from the internships I had in college, mostly doing design and marketing. I think the most impactful experiences for me have been attending Art Basel [Miami] each year. Art Basel is undeniably the most inspiring setting I’ve ever been in and continues to amaze me every time it rolls around. The whole city of Miami is packed with some of the world’s most talented and creative minds, with beautiful events and exhibitions happening all the time, everywhere you go. I’ve made sure to take advantage of Art Basel every year and look forward to growing a space for myself within it.
EQ: Your stylistic approach varies from piece to piece, and I admire the diversity in your collage, graphic design, and portraiture work. Could you share some of your stylistic influences and identify the artists who inspire you?
KK: Before moving to Miami, my main inspiration was simply the raw beauty of nature, the ocean in particular. The majority of my work at this time was influenced by what I saw around me at home in the Carolinas. Once I was immersed in the electric art scene of Miami, I was intrigued by the bright colors and bold figures found in the pop art that is so prevalent down here. When I wanted to start experimenting a little with this myself, I was hugely inspired by artist Terry Urban. I think his use of color, silhouettes, and layering tells a beautiful story. When it comes to collage work, I am a huge fan of Mike Parisella, also known as Slime Sunday. In portraiture, I’ve recently been loving Roxanne Sauriol Hauenherm, known also as Roxy Peroxyde.
Kristin Konefal, Famous & Blonde, 2022. Photo Courtesy: Kristin Konefal.
EQ: I am interested to understand your take on art from a commercial standpoint. Do you primarily create art based on commissions and requests, or is your work driven more by personal artistic expression?
KK: For a while, I was doing commissions based on whatever the buyer wanted but then started to accept commissions only when it was an idea I was excited about and could spin in my own way. Luckily over the last year, I’ve been able to shift to primarily only producing original work. I’ve only done two commissioned projects in the past year, the Bleau Boards for Fontainebleau and cover artwork for musician Joseph Capriati. I now really only accept them when it’s an exciting opportunity because creating original work is by far what I’m most passionate about.
EQ: Could you discuss your experience at Art Basel 2023 where you presented “Bleau Boards”? Obtaining a sponsorship and a spot at such a prestigious event is challenging- how did you secure this opportunity with Fontainebleau?
KK: I was given this opportunity after a friend of mine from UM reached out and said they knew someone at Fontainebleau who was looking for an artist who could paint on surfboards. She knew I’d worked on them in the past and asked if she could give them my info for consideration. I heard from them soon after, and we created the Bleau Boards exhibit as a collaborative project between Fontainebleau and I. I knew I wanted to be involved in Art Basel in some capacity in 2023, but hadn’t had time to finish a collection of works to show anywhere. When this opportunity came around, I was thrilled that I would be showing artwork somewhere during Basel Week after all. My favorite part of the exhibition was that the proceeds from the board for sale were all donated to Maui Wildfire Relief.
Kristin Konefal, Bleau Boards, 2023. Photo Courtesy: Kristin Konefal.
EQ: What inspired you to create these specific scenes of Frank Sinatra for this exhibition? Can you elaborate on your intricate process for creating the Bleau Boards?
KK: So this exhibition was technically a commissioned project—Fontainebleau wanted 3 historical images of Frank Sinatra that were taken at Fontainebleau to be recreated onto surfboards. Sinatra was a huge part of Fontainebleau's history and they love to honor him when they can. I had no say in choosing the imagery here, just making them come to life. I had just under a week to create 3 incredibly detailed, massive oil paintings. Beyond this project, I take inspiration from my music taste. Music plays a huge part in my life, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful things we’ve created as humans, a universal language. I like to compile the imagery and feelings that different songs invoke to create each composition.
Kristin Konefal, Bleau Boards, 2024. Photo Courtesy: Kristin Konefal.
EQ: Given your large social media presence, how do you think this has influenced your artistic choices and approach to your art style? Do you find that your artistic style adapts in response to social and professional demands, or do you primarily approach it as a form of expressive practice independently for yourself ?
KK: Where I’m at right now, I definitely view my art primarily as a means of personal expression. I do think I’ve found social/professional demands influencing what kind of art I make in the past though—for example, after graduating from college I feel like I identify less with the more pop art style work I’d been creating, yet I felt compelled to keep creating it because of how well it was received and encouraged online. Moving forward, I’m excited to take the elements that I do enjoy from that style and implement them in work that feels true to me.
EQ: Do you see social media as important for the future of artists, especially considering that art can be a niche career choice; and social media can play a large role in relevancy and the expansion of audience bases?
KK: I definitely think social media has revolutionized the art scene. It gives artists an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their work to audiences they may have never reached without it. An artist who only has the means to exhibit locally could reach millions of eyes all around the world with just one post gaining traction. I know from countless artists I follow and even myself that social media has the power to change lives. I will say I have many thoughts on social media in and of itself having its share of downsides...but when it comes to art, I think it’s an amazing creative tool for expression, opportunity, and inspiration. I think a fun part of my social media is creating videos and content to showcase my art. It feels like a whole separate creative project on its own.
Kristin Konefal, My Destruction is an Hour Late, 2024. Photo Courtesy: Kristin Konefal.
EQ: I've noticed you also create and sell multiples of your work through clothing or printwork, which is a strategic way to maximize the profit from your artistic creations, tapping into a viable market. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on whether this approach can be seen as controversial within the artistic community due to art being valued for its originality.
KK: I’ve heard the arguments on not selling prints and all of that, but I think with where I’m at right now, selling prints makes sense for me. I want to make my art available to others in a way that’s accessible. I’m not sure if that’s controversial, but I will say I don’t think anything could ever beat the original piece. Maybe one day I’ll no longer sell prints, but for now I think that’s the stage I’m at in my career. I also love fashion and think making my art wearable by selling clothing is an awesome means of creative expression.
Kristin Konefal, Joseph Capriati Cover Artwork, 2024. Photo Courtesy: Kristin Konefal.
EQ: So my final question is out of my own curiosity and I believe others will be as well- as you progress into this new stylistic period. Do you plan on having any future exhibitions, events or sales?
KK: Yes! I’m beginning a new body of work that hones in on music and its connection to my creative process. Music and art go hand in hand and hold a unique ability to make you feel—I’m going to be exploring that phenomenon in my new work over the next few months.
Many thanks to Kristin Konefal on behalf of MADE IN BED.
If you would like to find out more about Kristin Konefal art, visit her website or Instagram.
Emily Quinn
Contributing Writer & Social Media Manager, MADE IN BED