Hyperallergic interviews Jamie Nares, a New York-based painter and filmmaker, about her artistic journey and enduring focus on the brushstroke. Nares, who came out as transgender in 2019 and changed her artist name in 2024, discusses her move from London to New York in the mid-1970s, her involvement in the No Wave movement, and her recent decision to relocate permanently to Upstate New York. She explains how she reduced her practice to the single brushstroke, finding endless variation in that gesture, and describes her process as a search for the essences of things, stripping away what is superfluous.
This interview matters because it offers an intimate look at a queer elder artist who has maintained a rigorous, minimalist practice for decades while navigating personal and artistic transformation. Nares’s reflections on finding depth in simplicity and her commitment to authenticity resonate in an art world often driven by spectacle and market demands. The piece also highlights the importance of Pride Month features that center the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ artists, preserving their histories and perspectives.