Aurel Schmidt

Cigarettes, beer cans, donuts and tampons accessories all made by Mel Ottenberg and Aurel Schmidt

photographed by TERRY RICHARDSON 
styled by MEL OTTENBERG 
interview by OLIVIER ZAHM 

 

The madly detailed drawings of AUREL SCHMIDT bring together incredible technique and a world of trouble. After leaving Vancouver for make-it-or-break-it New York, the self-taught artist went from oblivion to showing her works at Deitch Projects and having them included in the Saatchi collection. She talks about the ride, the risks, and her very personal aesthetic.

OLIVIER ZAHM — Do you feel like anger can be a useful emotion for an artist?
AUREL SCHMIDT — Well, we’re all a little angry. Maybe even a lot. I’m a very angry person. But I think that anger drives everything — sexuality, happiness, creativity. It’s a tool. It’s not like I want to get rid of…