Carson Parkin-Fairley is a multidisciplinary artist, writer and maker who aims to bring joy with her work.

A lot of work went into your recent solo show in Ramsgate's Front Room Gallery. Has doing the show been a rewarding experience?

"Yes I did put a lot of work into the show, but it’s been an incredibly gratifying experience speaking to the public about my work. People have walked in and felt the energy and joy, and it’s a beautiful thing knowing that what you put into work, people receive. Being an artist can be a very insular job, I kind of make things in my studio and wonder if anyone will respond, so it’s nice to know they do!"

How much of the work was new and was made especially for the exhibition?

"The works span the past 2 years when I’ve been making art again full time. Some of the icons on show were some of my first created, then the two larger icons of Yayoi Kusama and Jean-Michel Basquiat were done in the last week before exhibiting. So it’s been a lovely exercise just seeing it all together and how my aesthetic has grown over the past couple of years.

The self portrait as an icon I had wanted to make for the show specifically, it is an ode to my journey to self-love and pride. A cardboard mosaic made in the energy of love and celebration. It took me so long to make but I’m so overjoyed seeing it on the wall here.

Your mother and Grandmother have both achieved success - how much of an inspiration have they been to you?

An almighty inspiration. How lucky I was to grow up with two incredibly strong, talented women who made me feel like I could achieve anything. I’m well aware I grew up with the privilege of being exposed to the arts in the way I was. My grandma would take me to galleries every day after school then we’d be back in her colourful studio painting.

My mother was nothing if not an inspiration, always grafting so hard, be it writing books or running restaurants, she worked tirelessly whilst raising me and my brother and I have nothing but the utmost respect for how she raised us, we were shrouded in love. And now to see her (my mother) return to making art after such a long time, is a true joy. I was engulfed in pride at her most recent 147 Women Dinner Party project.

People commission you to make work about their heroes and icons - is there anyone you've made a work about you weren't personally that into?

Thankfully, I haven’t yet been asked to create an icon of someone I personally dislike. There’s famous people that, with new information, I might find it hard to celebrate in that way, or perhaps I just wouldn’t feel right doing it. But everyone’s allowed their heroes right? So I don’t think I would ever tell anyone they’re wrong for being inspired by someone but I personally might draw the line at turning them into icons. I don’t think, if asked, I’d ever do a Jimmy Saville or Rolf Harris, but hopefully I’ll never be faced with that decision.

How much did you enjoy being a student at Camberwell? Were Art School Days the happiest of your life?

Ha! I wish! I think I was fed stories from my mother’s time at St Martins that it would be the coolest time in my life, but I was misled. I think she found her tribe at art school and I found that a lot of people thought they were a bit too cool for school. I was so excited getting to know my peers and everyone seemed to be so nonchalant about the whole experience. That and I think I only really liked one of my tutors. I didn’t end up finishing, worked in bars instead, and for a long time felt like I’d missed out on something. But I realise now, life is a great educator, and everything you’ve done feeds into what you make. So I guess the past two years have been a bit like catching up for me, being in the constant flow of creating and learning and experimenting, like at school, only without the £8k-a-term fees.

Can you make work with the radio on or music in the background? Do you tend to be more productive on certain days of the week or at certain times of the day?

I used to write about perfume for a living, and honestly find it impossible to write with any music or podcasts on in the background. With art, however, I love connecting to music or words whilst making. I’ll put on one of many playlists on or rediscover music I used to listen to ages ago on spotify. I like podcasts and audiobooks too. I find when working alone, listening to the sound of people’s voices stops me from feeling lonely. People say your creative brain is more active later in the day so I try to get any admin tasks done in the morning, and if I’m immersed in something I will often work late into the night doing it.

What, in your opinion, was the best art exhibit you’ve seen in London?

"Hands down I would say the best thing I’ve seen in recent years was Chila Burman’s transformation of Tate Britain. It was during COVID so the gallery wasn’t open but she decorated its front with this plethora of neon and colour, it was breathtaking. I’d never seen anything so joyous, it was so kitsch and colourful and make me feel like magic. I also really enjoyed Rachel Jones’ recent works for her show Smile at Thaddaeus Ropac."