Interview Directory 

ART

Name: Loren Snyk

Occupation: Artist

"Many artists’ education has focused almost exclusively on fine art, whereas my approach was to pursue computer science and find art within that field."

Can you tell us more about your unconventional background and your path into art and what makes it unique? 

I would say my cybersecurity background is unconventional for an artist. Many artists’ education has focused almost exclusively on fine art, whereas my approach was to pursue computer science and find art within that field. I feel that art is everywhere, being an expression of one’s interests. Another thing that makes my path into art unique is my integration of fashion with art, particularly in my mixed media pieces that incorporate fashion photos within the artwork. 

There is a trend to simply “express self” and leave raw the art that emerges. My approach is to leverage art similar to the way I would analyze anything else in life: to revisit and question whether what I’ve expressed represents what I really want to say. Art is not just about “being yourself,” it’s also about improving your taste, enhancing your message, and learning from others. 

You have a Masters in Information Technology from Harvard and work as a Director of Cloud Security. How does this influence your artistic practice or do you keep this separate? 

While I do keep the two areas separate, my work in cloud security influences my artistic practice significantly, particularly in the themes that I am drawn to express. Themes speak to people, and true art is an expression of what one finds appealing, so themes embedded within cybersecurity such as stealth, hidden messages, and layering often emerge in my artwork. 

"I often blend pictures within my overall art designs, so I don’t perceive design as different from my work in photography but rather foundational for both my photography and other forms of artistic media."

What role does design play in your artistic practice, and how does it differ from your work in photography or other media? 

At this point in my career, I consider photography an integral part of my artistic practice. I often blend pictures within my overall art designs, so I don’t perceive design as different from my work in photography but rather foundational for both my photography and other forms of artistic media. 

What projects have you done with luxury brands like Chanel and Hermes?

My projects with luxury brands like Chanel and Hermes occurred during my transition from modeling to fashion photography. Aside from wearing them in some fashion editorials, I assisted global fashion bloggers in coordinating interviews with these brands. I had the opportunity to speak with and align interview schedules for some of the top figures in the fashion industry, including renowned fashion designers, photographers, and top models and their global agencies.

You have received numerous awards, including the “Award of Artistic Merit” from the Pinacotheque in Luxembourg. How has this influenced your motivation or approach? 

That’s an interesting question, especially since the Pinacotheque in Luxembourg was what first piqued my interest in sharing my artwork externally several years ago. I would say it especially influenced my motivation to analyze what constitutes “good art” and decide whether I agreed with the majority perspective. I feel it’s important to be true to one’s own vision regardless of commercial appeal, but at the same time, it’s important to learn to see through others’ eyes and understand what speaks to them. Art is a method of communication, so it’s really worthwhile to take the time to understand that, whether to more closely identify with others or to refine one’s own taste and means of communication.

Are there any artists or movements that have significantly influenced your artistic development? 

I’ve had many influences, from top photographers (Steven Meisel and Peter Lindbergh, along with many newer photographers) and designers (Yves Saint Laurent, etc.), to renowned abstract artists such as Cecily Brown and more. I feel that finding what’s meaningful to oneself in others’ work is often the first step to developing one’s own style and taste. 

As a contemporary artist, how do you manage the balancing act between artistic freedom and the expectations of galleries or the art market? 

My approach is to confirm with others what my art conveys to them. I’m fortunate to have friends who work in the art world and have excellent taste, with strong skills in interpreting art. The fact that they are able to articulate well how they interpret my work is very meaningful to me, because it enables me to integrate this feedback into my own thought processes, which in turn influences the themes I develop as I consider what I really want to say with my art. 

Courtesy of the artist

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