Inside Jen Haefeli’s Creative Process and What Inspires Her as an Artist

Jen Haefeli is a multidisciplinary artist whose childhood was surrounded by music and art. In this interview, she talks about her journey from growing up with art and music to becoming an advocate for social justice through her creative work. She shares how she finds inspiration, her unique process of creating, and the strong connections she feels with the subjects of her art. She also opens up about her passion for turning everyday objects into meaningful pieces and how she uses her art to make a difference in the world

Jen Haefeli is an InterArtist who has always danced to a different rhythm. Her approach to creativity is multidisciplinary. She received her degree in InterArts from George Mason University in 2005, becoming the first graduate in the program. She went on to open Wild Root Creations and spent nearly ten years traveling to and living in Haiti, where her strong will to advocate blossomed. She serves on the board of Harvest107, based in Port au Prince. She is also a Signature Member of the National Association of Women Artists, Women’s Caucus for Art, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Greater Pittsburgh Art Council, Creative York, and Rochester Contemporary Art Center. She serves on the board of the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh.

Her work is influenced by history, humanities, women’s rights, social sciences, politics, and psychology. Her experiences with populations impacted by transcendent trauma have driven her to search for ways to partner with organizations to improve access to needed resources. She uses her work to advocate and educate, not just adorn. Her pieces are bold and engaging, colorful but hopefully inspiring.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Music and appreciation for artists has been a large part of my life. My parents traveled with me from the beginning. We usually had an album playing. Mangioni, lots of Soul. The Stones, Pink Floyd, The Dead, Houston. Dad plays Jazz, and Mom is 100% recycled hippy. They divorced, and I had two radically different types of upbringing, but from when I was little, I grew up with great art and fantastic music nearly all the time. I love to listen to music while I create. I grew up with folk pieces in the home. I have a life-size lynx that is one of the very few items from childhood that has been toted with me everywhere we move, like the family dog. Some families might have a portrait of a relative that is cherished. I have the lynx. I have always been fascinated by sculpture and multi-media work because of the lynx. He’s a giant piggy bank made from wood, hemp, and vinyl with painted spots. Some jump back when they see him initially, but I’ve always adored him and used to ride the back of him like a carousel horse. He represented a tenderness to me, and the balance struck by the success in the dichotomy of fear and love in my lynx by Felipe Archuleta has always challenged me. I hear music when I create, and I often wonder what Felipe might have listened to when he created my most cherished piece.

If I’m planning to create a piece honoring a person, place, or event, then I will similarly find as many resources as I think are responsible for educating myself on the subject.

Jen Haefeli

2. What inspired you to become an artist?

I have always been a creator. Since I was a kid I recall wanting to create from scraps and items in my environment. I moved around a lot when I was younger. Meeting the new teachers and students was eventually part of the routine. The most exciting part of a new place was the anticipation of seeing the art room in my new school. If sculpture, photography, and painting were all part of the curriculum, I immediately felt less anxiety about attending. I am happiest in creative environments. I usually have paintbrushes with me as well as something to write with. If I’m drawing, I am listening to music. If I am designing, I am listening to podcasts or lengthy documentaries. I move between disciplines and practices, but I’m usually creating in some fashion. I don’t recall a time when I was not an artist.

3. What is your creative process like from start to finish?

If I’m planning to create a piece honoring a person, place, or event, then I will similarly find as many resources as I think are responsible for educating myself on the subject. This research is placed in a master folder on my computer containing a set of sub-folders on the topics, such as images and related facts. If I have hand-written notes or items I’ve collected from a site visit, I keep those in a log and journal my ideas as the process unfolds. Small sketches and ideas for sculptures or additional projects are sometimes inspired, and I’m glad I keep documentation of these ideas. Found items or upcycled materials are my favorite things to work with.

I have jars of beads, buttons, caps, boxes of ribbons, fabrics, containers of wire, spools of string, and sometimes objects seem to jump out at me and start to tell a story. These things just need to become something else. I work with them until they reveal themselves. My wearable work is designed to create pieces with a carbon-neutral footprint. Allergens to metals and sensitivities to raw materials are considered; however, whenever possible, I implement found objects, small toys, faux florals and greenery, paper products, and more to create unique and fun pieces. In doing so, I aim to prevent some of the items I utilize from being disposed of while delivering a versatile, interesting, and fun collectible.

4. Can you tell us about a particular piece of art that holds special meaning for you?

Regarding my work, I created a piece titled Abstraction, which has probably become one of my favorite paintings. When I began the piece, I wasn’t sure where it was heading, so I had to put it aside for a while. It was filled with a lot of intensity. I used deep, firey reds and heavy contrasts of blue, and while those tones seemed to work well, I didn’t seem to find direction any time I came back to the piece. The block was absolutely solid. The piece was just not revealing itself. However, one day I decided to use some pink and burnt gold, and though it could have become a garish, it brought the piece to life. Utilizing the paints I infused with inks allowed this piece to reveal a myriad of hidden features and tones, and it has become a complex and beautifully surprising gem in my collection. It reminds me that sometimes I need to step back and let the piece speak to me, and other times I need to let color play and perform.

5. What do you hope people take away from experiencing your art?

One of my favorite compliments is that my work is full of good energy. That is incredibly inspiring. While I do not create in volume, I do create with intent, and I am humbled that the energy I place within my work is conveyed and delivered. Even if I am creating work that marks sorrowful events, I hope that the power of the message of strength and unity to overcome injustice and prevail with dignity is what those who view my work come away with. I hope my work can inspire research and education on the subject matter. I hope to communicate and convey a desire for understanding and, if I have done well enough, perhaps even create an advocate.

While I do not create in volume, I do create with intent, and I am humbled that the energy that I place within my work is conveyed and delivered.

Jen Haefeli

Jen Haefeli’s art goes beyond just being beautiful; it carries a powerful message. Her commitment to using art as a tool for change is clear in everything she creates. Whether using bold colors, found materials or telling a story through her work, Jen leaves a lasting impact on those who see her art. She’s an artist who not only creates with purpose but also hopes to inspire others through her work. To learn more about Jen, click on the links below.