Megan Gabrielle Harris

Meet Megan Gabrielle Harris, an artist whose paintings explore femininity, introspection, and the beauty of finding moments of stillness in a busy world. Inspired by her upbringing surrounded by art and her time living in South Africa, Megan creates dreamlike scenes that celebrate women in moments of solitude, freedom, and self-discovery. We caught up with Megan to talk about her artistic journey, the places that inspire her work, and what getting dressed looks like for a day in the studio.

How did you first discover your love of painting? Was art always a part of your life growing up?

My father is a painter; growing up, I would watch him paint almost every day. Because of that early exposure at home, art was always a part of my life. My parents often took my brother and I to art shows and museums as well.

Your father was also a painter. How has his work influenced your own?

The subjects in my father’s paintings often had their eyes closed as if they were in deep thought or some meditative state and that directly affected how I portrayed the figures in my own work.

Your paintings often center women in moments of leisure, reflection, and escape. What draws you to portraying women in these moments?

I always felt that it was especially important to depict women who had largely been marginalized and limited in representation as figures who are so much more than what they offer to others. The women in my works aren’t in service to anyone but themselves and they require a tender and solitary rejuvenation period before entering back into the chaos of the world.

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?

A typical day in the studio starts with picking the playlist. Once the energy has been set, I prepare my palette and get to work.

Travel has been an important source of inspiration in your work. Is there a place you’ve visited that has stayed with you creatively?

My time living in South Africa has probably been the most influential to me. I felt that I really came of age there as opposed to my hometown of Sacramento. I found my independence there and explored what freedom really was. There was also so much newness, being in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time…so many new flavors of food, types of flora and fauna, languages etc.

What are you wearing to the studio?

I usually have on a t-shirt or tank-top that I’ll pair with my white wide leg jeans (I use these jeans to wipe my brushes on as I’m working). I also wear a vintage black leather apron that my mom found for me while thrifting.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists today?

Don’t wait for the “right time” to start. Create what you want, right now, with what you have.

Who are the women that inspire you?

My mother and my grandmothers are my first inspirations. All that they have achieved and dared to dream has solidified my inner strength and the belief that if I can see it in my mind, I can make it happen.

If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

The color that I resonate with the most is like a light blue-green color (think: color of the Statue of Liberty). I’m a lover of the earth and sea (I’m a Taurus Sun and Moon, rising Scorpio) I also feel that there’s such a gentleness to this color that represents my approach to most things whether it’s in my painting style or how I interact with others.

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