Meet Jacqueline Tse | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacqueline Tse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacqueline, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
This might seem a bit dramatic but I ask myself if I died tomorrow if I would regret this…if the answer is no, then I know I should keep going.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am Chinese American, raised between Hong Kong and the US, I received my BFA in Studio Arts from NYU in 2006. Being laid off in 2015 was a blessing in disguise, having spent years putting in blood, sweat and tears designing and working for various established American brands and corporations, the one I was working for at the time decided to let go of their entire design team and work directly with factories in Asia as a cost cutting measure. Turned off by fast fashion, I returned to my passion of sculpting and decided to jump head first into being an artist so I can dedicate myself to my craft. I turned my affinity for sculpted candles into my brand “Mad Brooklyn” and sold them at craft fairs. In 2018, my love/hate relationship with sweets inspired me to create ceramics to celebrate and immortalize the artform, resulting in a whimsical collection of handmade ceramic sculptures, functional art and home decor.

I coped with my anxiety from my high pressure corporate design job by obsessively baking during downtime, which led to a sugar addiction. My ceramic work is influenced by the dilemmas of everyday urban life. It is an ongoing exploration of my fascination with American society of excess and consumerism, meanwhile still celebrating it’s beauty and flaws.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m still pretty new to AZ, but the reason I moved here was because of the beauty of the Saguaro. So either a drive or a hike in the mountains is a must. I’m partial to Saguaro National Park West.

And I love the architecture of San Xavier del Bac Mission and watching the sunset there.

I first came to Tucson in 2010 for the gem show. So I would suggest visiting in Jan/Feb and spend at least 3 days exploring, not just for the gems but also for all the fabulous personalities/crafts people/artists you will meet along the way.

I know I lived in NYC for 18 years and I’m supposed to poo poo bagels everywhere else, and I’m probably going to get cancelled by saying this, but the cinnamon crunch bagel with honey lavender schmear is divine. Even though I’m lactose intolerant it is so worth it.

I love the fresh salsas and tacos at BOCA, everything there is delicious, I’m flexitarian, so I love and appreciate the variety on their menu and there is something to fit everyone’s dietary preferences. I love the fresh tortillas but it is also refreshing to get their tacos with option of cabbage wrap so I don’t get too stuffed if I want to get a variety. Their doggy friendly patio and doggy bowl of carne asada is also a big hit with my pup.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Everyone and everything that I’ve crossed paths with in my lifetime, the good, the bad, and all the in betweens, I see you and appreciate you.

Website: www.madbrooklyn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mad_brooklyn/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinetsedesign/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jactse.studio

Image Credits
Artist portrait by Eric Michael Pearson. All other artwork photos by Jacqueline Tse