Check Out Allegra Giddings’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allegra Giddings.

Hi Allegra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

Thanks for having me!

I’ve always been naturally drawn to creating. One of my earliest memories is holding my dad’s digital camera, feeling mesmerized by how I could make a moment stand still and share an experience through it. I carried that mindset everywhere, always drawing, sewing, constantly making.

Over time, art became the way I processed the world, and also how I gave back to it. Usually the impulse to create hits me first, then the concept emerges. From there, I dive into research, explore techniques, draft, refine… This process always opens my mind and heart in new ways.
At some point, I realized that creativity isn’t just about generating art, it’s about connecting. It’s a way of communicating experience, truth, and perspective. That understanding changed everything for me.
I noticed that if I can pair a rich concept with strong execution, and then let it go into the world to be received—that’s powerful. That creative rhythm—input, expression, release—is something I’ve found many artists relate to, universally.
That rhythm is what eventually led me into show production. I love curating spaces where people can come together to share their work and experience others’. There’s nothing more fulfilling to me than helping someone’s work be seen or felt the way it was meant to be.

I’m still learning, of course, always, but I’ve never felt more in my element than I do when I’m bringing people together through art. The way I create evolves over time, but at the core, it’s always the same: the instinct to make, to uncover truths, and to connect—That’s what keeps me going.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well I suppose it could be smoother, but I try not to take things for granted. Artist life isn’t easy, especially in some circles where it’s not always seen as a “real” job. There’s this perception that it’s all fun and games, which, yes, it can be playful and experimental, but it’s also a lot of work. As my uncle, an 80 year old artist, says, “It’s a JOB.” His conviction is contagious.
Very few people find immediate success, whether that means making a living, finding your people, your audience, or just hitting your stride. And while I’m grateful for art school, it mostly focused on aesthetics, techniques, and history—not as much on how to actually sustain a creative life after graduating. So I left school knowing how to make work, but not how to turn it into a livelihood.
Like many artists, I picked up a side job to take pressure off my creative practice. And now, I’m in that constant balancing act—protecting my time and energy to create, and ensuring I perform well at the “side hustle”, but also ensuring that it doesn’t become the main hustle. Honestly, that’s an art in itself.
One thing I’ve learned is that my biggest struggles usually show up when I think I’ve finally figured it all out. If there’s one thing I know now, it’s that it’s all constant learning— art and life. That mindset helps me work more naturally, within my means, and with less pressure to meet some impossible standard.
I remind myself that the artists I admire were once where I am now. And I’ve accepted that I have to create—it’s who I am. So I’m settled into that, and I’m down for the ride.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I like to keep things interesting (some may say “complicated”). I work across a few different mediums: painting and drawing, photography, and apparel design. While they may seem separate, I’ve found they actually speak to each other more than you might think— One always leads to or becomes part of another.
My painting and drawing practice is the most personal—It’s how I process life. I usually work in abstract or surreal styles. It’s an intuitive, meditative process for me. I work in mostly small to medium format, though I dream of going big when I have the space.
In apparel, I focus on one-of-one, slow, sustainable fashion. I admire pieces that are comfortable and sharp—statement pieces that feel good to wear. I don’t produce collections often, maybe every year or two, because I want each release to feel well-crafted and thoughtful.
With photography, I’m drawn to capturing art, events, and people, especially in low light. I like the challenge of working without flash. It creates a warm, intimate, alive feeling. The subjects usually feel more natural too, which translates in the photos. I love some intentional shutter drag in a long exposure shot—If done unintentionally it looks sloppy, but when done well, it is beautiful, full of energy.
All of these creative practices are very important to me, but what I’ve realized is that they really come alive when they’re shared in the right space. And for me, the typical white-wall gallery doesn’t always cut it. No shade to tradition—there’s a time and place for it, for sure—but I wanted something more experiential, more alive. So I started producing independent shows.
Each show is unique, deeply curated around the work. We’ll pair the art with the right space, team, music, lighting, and any other elements that we feel the art calls for, like performance or food, for example. We transform spaces into immersive, sensory experiences, not just display rooms for art. I especially love working with emerging artists, because they tend to bring an openness, that is, a sense of possibility and wildly ambitious dreaming to the process. I like to dream big too, and then scale back if needed.
I’m most proud of the shows I’ve produced, because I can tell they shift something for people, usually perspective or mood. These spaces feel like hotspots for connection, truth, beauty, and good energy. That’s what I want to offer to the world.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

One thing I wish I had understood better when starting out is just how much being an artist really means being a one-person show. You’re the seer and the philosopher, the designer, the artisan, the writer, the marketing team, the salesperson, the shipping department, the socialite, the hermit… You’re all of it. At least until you can hire help.
That can feel overwhelming, so my advice would be: Try taking it one moment at a time. Be ready to work hard, yes, but also allow yourself rest. Just do what you can do—no more, no less.
Also, get used to trusting your intuition. Don’t take on work that feels wrong. The right people and the right opportunities will come if you keep going on your path.
And of course, don’t forget to play. If you find yourself taking things too seriously, do something silly or out of the ordinary. It will take the edge off and bring you back to life.

I’m always open to new and exciting opportunities. Let’s connect! Send me a message about collecting works, photoshoot bookings, or collaborations.

Contact Info:

• Email: allegragiddings@gmail.com
  
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/allegra-giddings
  
• Website: allegragiddings.com

Image Credits
[In order]
Roxanna Martinez / @roxieeeee_
Anonymous
Cody Notch / @cody_notch
Allegra Giddings / @__________allegra
Yvens Alex Saintil / @alex_shootz
Eric Salas / @4amindenver
Chance Eugene / @chance.ugene
Emily Czelusniak / @mle.cz
Chance Eugene / @chance.ugene
Eric Salas / @4amindenver
Logan Weaver / @lgnwvr