Small talks with Petra Sparrebro

Hello Petra. Would you please introduce yourself? 

Hello, my name is Petra Sparrebro. I'm a 23-year-old creative spirit and the founder of WEAREART.studio, where I showcase my artworks and creative processes. Besides that, I work as a freelance stylist. 

My drive comes from working across various art forms, and my expressions change depending on the creative concept I'm immersed in. 

Currently, I'm focused on mixed media, intertwining abstract painting, words, illustration, and photography to capture the myriad thoughts and impressions swirling in a chaotic mind in an overstimulating world. I also create many illustrations and love painting on vintage wear to give it new life and allow paintings to exist beyond the canvas.

My style is spontaneous, direct, and deliberately imperfect. It stems from an active choice to embrace chaos, impulsive ideas, and a trial-and-error process. I'm motivated by visualizing thoughts, experiences, or observations I encounter in life. I often work with themes of mental illness and mental health, with a twist of absurdity. This approach allows me to address complex emotions and societal issues in a way that feels authentic and engaging.

Could you tell us a bit about how it all began - your creative journey?

I started creating art when I lived in Spain in 2020. I found a sense of peace in creating that I had never experienced before and have tried to hold onto that feeling ever since. In 2022, I officially launched my creative business, WEAREART.studio. Over the past few years, I have explored my creativity and become more established as an artist. WEAREART.studio began in earnest with a limited T-shirt project featuring my body positivity designs, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. This project marked the beginning of my journey to integrate art with meaningful causes.

Art is a common ground that can address issues, feelings, and thoughts that are difficult to talk about openly. It is something humans have always sought, both consciously and unconsciously. I see creativity and creation as a language in itself, making it essential to provide space for this form of communication. 

Art allows us to express what we might not be able to articulate with words, fostering understanding and connection among people.

If I hadn't pursued a career as an artist, I might have continued working with people with visual impairments, as I did during my year in Spain, or I might have studied psychology or criminology. Looking ahead, I plan to continue playing with my creativity and see where new projects take me. I aim to eventually host creative and cultural events through WEAREART.studio, where I and other upcoming artists can exhibit and sell our work, always donating a portion to mental health research.

I want to keep exploring and using the darkness within me and within us all to create a shared understanding that darkness isn't something to fear but to embrace. By accepting the darkness, we can better appreciate the magical, luminous moments, making it easier to exist and understand ourselves and each other.