A View From the Easel

Hillerbrand and Magsamen, the Houston-based artist duo, have been working together for over 25 years in a quirky and unconventional studio setup. Their workspace evolved from a three-and-a-half-story spaceship in their backyard, following their move from New York. The couple enjoys the messiness of making art, embracing the chaos and blurring the line between their personal lives and their creative work.

Every day, Stephan works on a project in the morning while Mary takes over in the afternoon and evening. On weekends, they gather to have spirited debates about their creative choices. The studio's unique environment affects their work, providing a refuge from the art, allowing them to distance themselves from the creative process and indulge in other activities, like ordering takeout.

Interacting with the environment outside their studio, the artists found Houston's vibrant arts community to be quite different from the solitude they initially experienced in New York. They initiated block parties, open studios, and even created a miniature gallery called Shepherd Park Projects in their front yard, which showcases works from six local artists annually.

The artists appreciate the studio's ability to accommodate the piles of work materials that accumulate throughout their projects. They wish for more storage space to archive their past creations, as they only recently purchased a flat file six months ago to store some of their work. When asked about their favorite local museum, they enthusiastically recommend the Houston Center for Photography for its impressive programming.