Meet Marley Blauch | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marley Blauch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marley, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My pursuit of a life and career rooted in and centered around the arts has never felt as if it were a choice to me. For as long as I can remember, I have considered myself to be an artist above all else and I have been unable to pull myself away from creating, visiting museums, and immersing myself in as many realms of the art world as possible. I simply have never been able to imagine myself leading a life that did not revolve around the arts. Since childhood, I have been beyond intrigued by diverse arts practices and have gained experience in everything from painting and drawing to ceramics to stained glass, and have loved every second of it. I also attended an arts high school with a very expansive and rigorous program, which only grew my adoration for creation, along with my deep interest in the art world and art history. As I have continued my studio practice and study of art history at UC San Diego, I have only found myself increasingly unable to ever imagine myself doing anything different, as I simply love making and learning about art more than absolutely anything else in the world. Also, for the last year or so, I have worked at Legends Gallery in La Jolla as an assistant and art consultant, where I have gained valuable experience and an entirely new perspective on the arts. I am currently in London studying at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, where I have been thrown into novel and exciting subjects like the global art market and digital futures in contemporary art, which has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life thus far. I have always loved visiting museums and galleries, but doing so in a new city with such an amazing and robust art scene has been beyond educational and amazing, and, along with my previous experiences, has broadened my passions for and admiration of the many elements that compose the art world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am very proud of how truly passionate I am about the arts, and therefore how dedicated I have remained to expanding my knowledge of the many facets of the art world throughout my entire life. I have always spent much of my free time creating art, adored visiting museums and galleries, explored novel mediums and practices at every chance, and have essentially always made an effort to come out of my shell and reach out to others within the art world. This devotedness, and the experience and inspiration I have gained from it, are elements of myself and my practice that I am beyond grateful for and that I believe forge a uniqueness in my work. A pursuit of the arts is rarely easy, and a genuine desire to learn and grow as an artist and scholar have been vital to my success thus far within the art world. I believe that exploring as many diverse mediums and techniques as possible, learning about art history and other artists, and a deep and genuine passion are central to an artist’s growth and success; the inspiration to be drawn from all realms of the art world is boundless. Although I have never deeply considered the pursuit of a career outside of the art world, others’ opinions and concerns of my path are sometimes disheartening; however, it is hard for me to imagine ever loving anything as much as I love art, so I must meet doubts or ridicule with confidence. I have learned that my deep passion and dedication are central to my identity both as a human and artist, and I hope that this is reflected both within my practice and the manner in which I go about life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I spend very much of my time alone and seldom go out at night, so many of the activities I would suggest to someone visiting San Diego involve embracing the beautiful flora, fauna, and sunshine. I am lucky enough to live in beautiful downtown La Jolla, an area that I absolutely adore, so I would definitely recommend visiting many of the gems within this amazing neighborhood. The La Jolla tide pools are one of my very favorite spots in San Diego, along with the entire coast of the town. I often walk from the tide pools to the coastal trail, which is gorgeous and includes many amazing stops on the way, like the sea lions and the cave store. I would also insist upon walking through the adorable town and visiting the many amazing art galleries. I also visit Trilogy Sanctuary nearly daily, where I love to take amazing yoga classes, eat vegan food on the rooftop, and shop in the eco-boutique. When I’m not spending time exploring my lovely neighborhood, I love to hang out in Ocean Beach. The OB Farmers’ Market is incredible, and hosts so many amazing vendors selling everything from fruit to movie posters to the best vintage clothes. I also love visiting Sunset Cliffs and the Template, which is the coolest little coffee shop that also hosts amazing events. Ocean Beach is also just a beautiful area, so I would definitely recommend just walking through the town and visiting the many shops and restaurants. Visiting museums is one of my very favorite things in the world, and my favorites in San Diego are the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the Mingei International Museum. Also, in Balboa Park, the Japanese Friendship Garden Succulent Garden, and Rose Garden are all an absolute must! I also love the Kobey Swamp Meet to shop for funky and unique clothes, antiques, and more. San Diego is such a lovely city with so, so, so many wonderful things to do, but these the ones I gladly do again and again as a local!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First of all, I would love to thank my mother, Kim Gravolet, for supporting my passion for the arts and for constantly encouraging and pushing me to explore and experience as much as possible within the art world. I would also love to thank my incredible grandparents, Joni and Bob Gravolet, for their never ending support, for always believing in me, and for loving me unconditionally; without them, I would absolutely not be where I am today.

Website: marleyblauch.com

Instagram: @artofmarley

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marley-blauch-b61380292