Charlotte Hailstone: NYC Artist Spotlight
Charlotte is crazy.
One look into her eyes and you feel it,
— A smile that stretches across her whole face, sending out an energy that erupts like a tidal wave through any room she enters.
In my house, my circle, my world — we call this controlled chaos.
Naturally, I nearly lose my cool when I hear those words — verbatim — slip out of her mouth. I nod aggressively, neurotically, my demeanor suddenly alive as I realize I’m in the presence of someone whose wisdom affirms the life I’ve been trying to embody.
As if I am family, Charlotte welcomes me into her apartment in Manhattan with a cheeky warmth.
“I like color”. she beams. An almost comically obvious exclamation— surrounded by her tastefully loud pieces of art. A quick scan of the room reveals: an oversized sculpture of farfalle pasta, laser-cut neon acrylic coasters, and vibrant abstract paintings. I settle into her couch, surrounded by the bits of her life she’s thoughtfully collected, created, and scattered: a living embodiment of controlled chaos, rendered in a way that feels homey, elevated, and effortless.
A painter by trade, Charlotte knows her talent is expansive - she refuses to be pigeonholed.
“I’m not just one thing,” she says.
But settling into this medium, for now, has clearly paid off. Her paintings are consistent, quality, and most importantly — worth talking about.
When I first came to New York, I felt overwhelmed by the niches, communities that felt pretentious or painted by unspoken rules. However one thing is clear— just a step in Charlotte’s circle will melt away any fear of belonging and inadequacy.
She urges those around her to simple be.
When I try to grasp what it means to truly see an artist, my mind freezes. There are too many doors, endlessly opening, teaching me something new about the journey this person has gone on. How could I ever do it all justice?
My mental paralysis loosens as I notice the calm in the room — something one would not expect when pairing two chaotic people. So we chat.
Charlotte walked me through her journey at Parsons School of Design, her content jobs, the covid plateau that gave her the idea of taking a few painting classes at the Art Students League (with Larry Poons).
We reminisced on those open studio days, when she’d glue together acrylic oddities into sculpture. In this moment my eyes scan the room. I am noticing the evolution of her work through time, and how her current paintings echo the same curiosities her gaze used to fawn over.
Her current series - Hanging up now at Maison 10 and all over the city, reflects satisfying translucent shapes in all sorts of captivating colorways.
“The work is more mentally taxing,” she remarks. Something that appeals to me the most as an artist myself:
Work that requires use of the linear left brained imagery, lines, and precision - a result that requires forethought and patience.
As I sat across from Charlotte, I felt her youthful spirit danced seamlessly with a wisdom that comes with time.
From going viral on TikTok with her inviting storytimes about a New York finance bro, to curating group shows that spotlight emerging artists — Charlotte’s glowingly unapologetic nature is what makes her a magnetic, successful artist.
She’s not just an artist who creates beautiful work — she actively engages her community, breaking unspoken rules and lifting others along the way.
As our time together came to an end, I asked Charlotte what advice she could give to any emerging artists.
“Consistently create,
share share share,
Don’t wait to create, just do it, —
persist and you will make it”
and her favorite:
“Break the rules”.
Leaving our meeting, I felt a sense of community and hope, the fruit of Charlotte’s pure spirit and excitement.
It’s a pressing feeling of joy, like holding your hand to your chest with a warm pressure — that follows you into new seasons.
It would be quite selfish of me to keep it all to myself.
