TRACIE SPENCE

I am a curious being, I love artistic expression, I love to play, and I can’t help but be creative as my intuition builds even more creativity. I have a passion for all arts as well as deep curiosity for human nature and how the two affect each other. I was raised in Pittsburgh PA and performed with The Pittsburgh Youth Ballet through high school. It was through dance that I learned how the physical realm of human expression became intertwined into emotional experiences.

I studied psychology at Purdue University. It was at the time of practicing as a psychotherapist in my late 20’s that I got my first camera and started experimenting with photography in the dark room.  After my first shoot I realized that my true passion was still rooted with the arts and the study of how art form can evoke so much on another. I knew that in order to live authentically and honestly to myself, I must create. Trying out all forms of photography, I had won 3 Fuji Film awards within my first year of shooting. With success happening rather quickly I played with many genres within photography before deciding to settle on advertising photography for major international campaigns. All the while, I knew I would ultimately end up shooting fine art.

With twists and turns in life, a traumatic brain injury skiing halted my advertising career in a single moment and then my focus was on relearning balance, vision, memory, empathy amongst many other basic life skills most take for granted. I had lost my ability to see or think creativity as well as my ability to see or compose through the lens. Recovery was slow. In the next 3 years, I had suffered 5 more concussions and more set backs. It took years to regain my ability to be creative and from there a whole new world opened up to me. I believe it is from these challenges, life lessons and experiences that my purpose is now to create art that can touch others in a spiritual and emotional way. It’s all about rebirth and seeing life’s simple treasures that are all around us. It may be in a ray of light shining through the beautifully shaped trees or the soul emitting through the eyes of a wild mustang. These are things I want others to see and feel through my work.

C.S. Lewis stated, “You don’t have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body.” Since being back behind the camera I only shoot what evokes my soul. I am called by my subject’s authenticity and truths in their own state of energy and rawness. My art uniquely reflects emotion, energy, and introspection and life in its most organic state. I am inspired by nature, light, shadows, lines and the emotions and perceptions we have of them.

I believe in giving back, I donate 10% of every sale to one of a handful of my favorite charities. If you want to specify where i donate your purchase to please let me know.

I split my time between Big Sky, Montana and Pheonix, AZ.