Let’s meet Photographer Cleo Cartwright!
Cleo Cartwright is a portrait and fashion photographer in the Chicagoland area. She has had a love for what she does since she was seven-years-old using a Walgreens brand camera, and of course, the rest was history. Today, Cleo shares her vision with her audience through her self portraits as she sheds a creative light on mental health and even her commercial work.
What type of art do you do? (Painting, dancing, photography) : Photographer
Which part of Chicago are you from (if you are)? : I'm from the West side, right now I live up North
Why do you make this type of Art? When I was younger [ still to this day] I studied the pictures in magazines and studied the lights and shapes in each photo and that’s what started my journey. I always felt like photography was the only way to express myself whether it was my self portraits that I do or my other commercial work. I often struggled with focusing on what others think about me. I compared myself to others, desperately seeking validation and worth in everyone and not myself. In some ways that feeling of self-conscious manifested fear and anxiety. Naturally, I am shy. I don’t like asking people for help (even though I want to) because I hate feeling like I’m bothering someone. As a result, I choose to be the subject out of fear. I have been taking pictures since I was about 7 years old when I first moved to Chicago. I started with a regular point and shoot Walgreens brand camera and the rest is history
What inspires you? Life. Just living everyday, in appreciation of the smallest things in life inspires me enough.
What do you want your art to represent?: My recent self portrait projects I want to share my experiences with anxiety and depression in a creative light. My project is an outlet to help me face fears and be an inspiration to others. During these unprecedented times of COVID living, unrest, and uncertainty my goal is to bring more awareness on mental health, and shine a light on creativity, feminism and empowerment.
What’s the process of your work to the finished product? : Lots of music, Pinterest and vision boards
How do you interpret the meaning of your work?:
Being transparent as possible. Just being real. I let my work speak for me.
