The Exchange: Chunky Brewster — Radical Honesty, Grit, and Glitter Eyeshadow
This month marks the first feature in The Exchange — a new artist interview series that celebrates community, creativity, and the conversations that happen when artists sit down and talk.
I couldn’t think of a better person to kick things off with than Chunky Brewster — collage artist, street artist, and one of my favorite humans to sticker-bomb New York with.
Our conversation flowed easily (as it always does) — from childhood creative sparks to grown-up projects, late-night laughs, and how we both navigate the balance between play and purpose. What follows is part of that conversation, alongside some of Chunky Brewster’s recent collage work and sticker designs that are as cheeky, bold, and layered as she is.
Collage series by Chunky Brewster — layered, glittered, and deeply tongue-in-cheek.
Q. What would you say was your gateway creative outlet?
A. As a kid, I spent a lot of time with shapes. Those brightly colored wooden tessellation blocks we had in elementary school were MY JAM.
Q. How did your creativity evolve, and where did it take you?
A. I first dipped my toe into collage as a kid, and little fiddly things, like cutting out snowflakes. My grandma taught me to hand-sew when I was 4, so of course I designed and made outfits for my dolls. I wrote poetry and sang and made a zine and was always doing SOMETHING. As an adult, I still bounce back and forth between practices, but thank god I stopped writing mediocre poetry.
Q. Is there any particular direction you see your art moving in the next year or two?
A. I’ve definitely got some ideas swirling around in my brain for another collage series! I want to do something a little different, both conceptually and technique-wise. I’ve also been collecting random pieces of metal off the ground for the last 6 months, and have some big plans for those!
Q. How would you describe your art in three words today? (And do those words ever change?
A. Cheeky, intentional, and uncompromising. There are definitely more words that apply to some of my work, but these 3 are consistent throughout what I do.
Q. What do you hope someone feels when they see your work on a wall or sign for the first time?
A. Seen. And if the stickers elicit a chuckle, then YAY!
Q. That’s the most memorable night or day you’ve had while putting up — good or bad?
A. On my first trip to NYC in 2023, I spent several days getting up in Brooklyn. It was sunny and warmer than I was used to April being, and I was consistently stoned and just felt GIDDY and starry-eyed for days on end.
Q. How do you stay inspired when your energy dips or when life gets busy?
A. I’m a highly sensory person and am hyper-aware pretty much all the time, so just existing in the world tends to inspire me. It can’t be forced, though; blocks happen. I find it’s important to be ok with letting my creativity rest from time to time.
Q. If your stickers could talk, what would they say about you?
A. I mean… they’re text, so I kinda hope they’d say what they say. I guess the biggest thing I’d want people to take from them is the sense of playfulness and sass, and not read them as bitter or bitchy.
Listen in as Chunky Brewster and I talk art, humor, and everything in between — the full Exchange below.
Thank you to Chunky Brewster for sharing her time, words, and world.
You can find more of her work on Instagram @_chunky_brewster_
Stay tuned for the next installment of The Exchange — more artists, more conversations, more creative fuel.
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