Interview
Tracy Ostmann Haschke
As a native of rural Missouri, Tracy’s artistic roots grew from a family of craftsmen and artisans.
After receiving her BFA in painting and drawing from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, Tracy attended The Art Institute of Chicago, where she completed the Post Baccalaureate certificate program.
In Chicago, Tracy completed her first private-public art project for the St. Louis Metro Link station. During this time, she began exhibiting her paintings and started a decorative arts service business called Studi-O, now TOHArts.
Tracy completed projects for The John G. Shedd Aquarium, The University of Pennsylvania, Jelly Belly Candy Co., Warner Brothers, The Cliff-dweller’s Club, Art and Soul restaurant-Washington D.C., The Garfield Park Conservatory, and Ralph Lauren. She has received a Chicago Arts Assistance Program grant award. Tracy currently exhibits her work at Springboard Arts Gallery in Wicker Park.
Photo by Daphne Walsh
In 2017, she completed a tree for Chicago Sculpture International and The Chicago Tree Project. Her work is collected by private collectors nationally and internationally in corporate and public spaces.
Tracy lives and works in Chicago with her husband and two children.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I grew up in the Midwest, in the state of Missouri. We lived in the middle of 5 acres of wooded land surrounded by farms. I was surrounded by the beauty of nature and animals. That was how I perceived the whole world.
I was making houses for turtles, and nests for birds and that sort of stuff, but what really fascinated me were my parents’ friends that would come visit, especially my mother’s friends. Sally was a mechanic in the Air Force. Kay owned her own building company and constructed houses. The women in my family were also inspiring, including my grandmothers, who were artists. They were powerful with the greatest sense of humor.
My mother’s side of the family were artisans and craftsmen, so I was always around someone making something. When I was 15, my grandmother passed away and I inherited her box of oil paints. That was the beginning of painting for me.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My work is about people and the figure. My subjects are frozen in a glimpse of time. At the moment, I'm trying to achieve this ‘glimpse’ in a more offhand or unplanned process. The scale will tilt, the work becoming more about my drawing with paint — the way it's applied and the combination of the colors — and less about the details of my subject. Over time, I've learned that these are my best works.”
“My paintings are representational, mostly associated with representing an everyday genre. From exploring the mundane aspects of daily life, to the extraordinary events that we can all identify with.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“I'm very excited that figurative work is making a comeback. I love and reference the Bay Area Artists; Elmer Bischoff being a favorite. I think I'll continue to push myself in that direction and see where that trend will take me.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I create my work mostly through improvisation. However, sometimes I make notes of what I saw that I want to paint. I can still see the vision in my head of what it was that caught my eye about someone that made me want to paint them. I may try to write it down so that when I'm at a loss, I can go through my notes. But typically, I really do love just diving into a painting without too much planning.”
What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
“I work in oils, acrylics, graphite and charcoal. Those are my go-to mediums. Oil painting is my most favorite, but I like to draw with the paint. I typically work on canvas or paper.”
What does your art mean to you?
“My art is my life. It's embedded in me. I could not live without being able to create.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“I can't name one favorite. That's crazy! I do have Elizabeth Sparhawk Jones’ ‘The Shoe Shop’ on my phone now. It's such a beautiful painting — it almost looks like pastel. The way the figures in the distance are handled is brilliant. I could gaze at the light on the blouses and skirts and ribbons forever. She doesn't fuss around. Her style is consistent throughout the painting.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’m yet to have a noteworthy exhibition of my paintings. But I had an exhibition with my friend Michael Thompson back in 2015, at a tiny spice shop that had large windows where we could put installation work. We each took a large window and created what we wanted. I really got into my pieces, which were food-centric and not figurative.
The exhibit consisted of an oversized painting of garlic, and another of lemons. I sewed a 4 foot tall pillow together in the shape of ginger root, complete with the fuzzy end and nubbs. I constructed 5' paper-mache chili peppers. And made a 4' diameter spice cap lid that still resides in the spice shop window. It was a blast! The show was really well-received. I'd like to have a show of my figurative paintings and feel the way I did about this exhibit.
And I’m happy to announce that I have another upcoming group show. The title is ‘56 Milwaukee’ at Oliva Gallery 3816 W. Armitage, Chicago, on March 11th, 5-10pm. This show will be about the art scene in the early 1990s, and the artists in Chicago from that era. I feel very honored to be included with these select artists.”
Website: www.tracyostmannhaschke.com
Instagram: @tracyostmann
