Welcome to the 337th edition of A View From the Easel, where artists share insights into their creative environments. This edition features Lavett Ballard, an artist and Barbie curator, who curates exhibitions and transforms wood in a former high school chemistry lab turned community center.
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Lavett Ballard, based in Willingboro, New Jersey, has been creating in her current studio for eight years. Her artistic routine includes frequent visits, arriving around midday, and working until the facility closes at night. Her space, once a chemistry lab, is filled with materials and inspiration, from sawdust-covered floors to stacks of art books and a collection of Barbies curated for her granddaughter.
The studio’s atmosphere significantly influences Ballard’s work. The spacious environment, filled with natural light from large windows, allows her to explore ideas on a grand scale, with multiple projects often underway simultaneously. The historical and communal aspects of the building also play a role in her creative process, reinforcing a sense of experimentation and transformation.
Ballard is actively engaged with her local art community, serving as the township’s artist-in-residence and organizing exhibitions in the community center’s gallery. Proximity to Philadelphia enriches her artistic journey with frequent visits to galleries and museums, further connecting her with a broader art scene. Despite some logistical challenges, such as Wi-Fi issues and accessibility, Ballard finds her studio to be a unique and inspiring haven for her work.
Among her favorite materials, wood stands out for its tactile qualities and potential for transformation. Ballard also appreciates the Colored Girls Museum in Philadelphia for its powerful storytelling, alongside her admiration for the Brooklyn Museum and The Met in New York.
