Stella Luck, senior studio art and Spanish double major, has been creating art via different mediums since a very young age. Currently, Luck is working on making pieces with a technique called tufting. I asked her a few questions about the artwork that she is currently working on.

Luck’s work will be featured in the TU Senior Art Major Exhibition, fittingly titled “Egress.” The exhibition will run from April 29 to May 22, 2021. The show will feature works from five senior student artists and will be held in the Neidorff art gallery in the Dickie-Smith Art Building.

How long have you been making art?

I’ve been making art as long as I can remember; one of my parents works in a creative field, so I’ve been encouraged to practice art from a young age.

How did you decide to be an art major?

I realized that I’d be able to double major because of my credit hours, and after taking a few art classes at Trinity, it seemed like a natural decision that one of those majors should be art. I wanted to major in things that I genuinely enjoy.

What medium(s) are you focusing on?

I really enjoy a wide range of media, but my work for the senior art major exhibition is in fibers. I wanted to challenge myself technically and create in a way that I was unfamiliar with. I’ve been teaching myself and practicing a technique called tufting, which is a form of textile weaving that is most often associated with the production of rugs. I’m using a power tool called a tufting gun and different blends of cotton and acrylic fibers to create wall hangings.

Approximately how long does it take you to make a wall hanging using the tufting technique?
So far, like 12-18 hours.

What inspires your work?

My current body of work is inspired by my experience as a donor conceived person. Being donor conceived is a unique experience that has generated a lot of complex emotions about donor conception and the fertility industry as a whole. The materiality of my work is intended to function as a metaphor for DNA, and the imagery as a subtle commentary on the profit-centered nature of the fertility industry.

What is your favorite thing you have created?

My piece for the senior show, Genetic Study 2. It’s significant to me personally but was also very difficult to create, so it was satisfying for my vision to come to fruition.

How many pieces are you making for the senior art exhibition?

Hopefully five, but maybe four. I only have three right now, and I have to install on Tuesday, so we will see.

What do you want to do post-grad?

I’m taking some time off to decide whether I want to pursue a career in art-making or just the art industry. I’d like to continue my current body of work and increase my skills in tufting, maybe even take commissions for wall hangings or rugs.