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Inside the Studio: Denise Adler

In this edition of our Inside the Studio series, we delve into the evocative world of Denise Adler, a multidisciplinary artist whose work weaves together drawing, painting, collage, and photography. Denise’s layered creations reflect deep explorations of identity, mythology, and personal experience. From blending traditional and digital mediums to infusing her art with elements of chance, Denise’s practice challenges the boundaries of creative storytelling. Read on as she shares her artistic philosophy, inspirations, and insights into her unique process.



Read on to learn more in an exclusive interview with Denise Adler :

 

1. Your work blends drawing, painting, collage, and photography into layered dreamscapes. How do you decide which mediums to use for each project?


I usually start with something that seems intrinsically interesting to me, so maybe it’s a photograph, a picture, or even a torn piece of paper on the floor. In some cases, I will just sketch out rough drafts of images, usually geometric lines or crosshairs or curves. I then begin to layer on images or paint. At this point, a full scale of the work starts to come forward.


The general sense of the work comes from my experiences in the world—what’s happening to me, what’s happening around me, what I am reading about, and what I am dreaming about. It’s all very third eye; I try to listen to that innate sensibility.






2. You explore identity through mythic and legendary imagery. How does your work reflect contemporary culture’s complex relationship with identity?


I use the symbolism I absorbed from the myths and fables I loved as a child and reinterpret them in a contemporary way. I feel like these symbols are universal and connect us not only to ourselves but also to humankind.


Identity, at its best, is an acceptance of our common spirit; at worst, it’s a sort of tribalism. My work seeks to allow stories to play out. In the end, I aim to find balance.






3. What role does chance and spontaneity play in your photomontages, especially when working with found materials?

I don’t believe in mistakes, so chance and spontaneity play a big role. That’s not to say that I just grab whatever is in front of me, but I do allow my unconscious to play a little. Sometimes, a word or image in a snippet of newsprint pasted in an obvious place jumps out and leads me down an alternative path. I feel this is the divine spirit—the collective unconscious intervening.




4. Your solo show In Quintessence examined internal and external identities. How did this concept evolve, and what message were you aiming to convey?


In In Quintessence, I was trying to illustrate the spirit—the essence that makes us who we are. The word literally means the fifth sense, beyond the mundanity of reality, the light that is like God, holy and expansive.


At the time I was working on that show, my brother was dying, so it was a reflection of, and an outlet for, my grief. It was also a spiritual journey through my memories, seeking a connection impervious to the limitations of the flesh. The universal need to keep your loved ones with you was at the heart of the show.






5. Having studied with feminist artist Juanita McNeely, how has feminist art shaped your practice and approach to portraiture?


Juanita McNeely taught me to be honest, dig deeper, and be open to the revelation of the distinct feminine experience, whether or not it’s difficult, painful, or ecstatic. The collective feminine unconscious, which I believe tells a story of incredible strength, tenacity, and creativity, has been too long ignored, maligned, or credited to men.


My portraits, mostly of women (but sometimes men), seek to show feminine perspectives of sensitivity, spirituality, intelligence, grief, or pleasure. These goddesses are powerful yet conceived to tell a richer story.






6. Can you describe the balance between personal expression and broader archetypal themes in your portrait and photomontage work?

I always seek a balance between the personal and the symbolic. My experiences are, after all, where my inspirations start. The archetypal themes are my way of processing any given situation.


I adapt and personalize these themes so they relate to the present day. My stories, locked in my portraits and photomontages, are mine. Yet, they remain open to interpretation; the viewer could have a completely different take on any given piece. My use of symbols is deliberate, and the hope is that they resonate in a particular way.






7. What excites you most about blending traditional art forms with digital manipulation in your photomontages?


It’s wonderful to blend new methods with old ones. Technology is a tool; used well, it allows us to shortcut much of the mess of reality.


For me, the true joy comes from going back and forth between the virtual and the actual. Taking an image, manipulating it, reproducing it, cutting and pasting that piece to create something new, photographing it, and using it for another generation of related but different art—this process creates a kind of genetic vocabulary of symbols and themes that continually evolves.




8. As someone who uses ‘lost and found’ materials in your work, how do you see the relationship between nostalgia and discovery in your creative process? The term lost and found resonates for me. In the absence of something, we gain insight into its value or cost. Finding is a reward, with a renewed sense of regard.


I have a negative association with the word nostalgia, as it seems to sugarcoat the past. I prefer the word evidence, which has a more precise feel. The detritus I use as a medium for my collages tells a story different from the original. The story is now mine, and it is for the viewer to interpret.





Denise Adler’s work is a profound exploration of the interplay between the personal and the universal. Through her innovative techniques and storytelling, she brings forgotten materials, myths, and themes to life in a way that is both intimate and expansive. Denise invites us to engage not just with her art but with the larger conversations about identity, spirituality, and connection.

 

You can learn more about Denise Adler and her work via these links:

Saatchi Art: @Denise Adler

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