Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor + Connor Robinson.
Hi, Taylor + Connor; thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our journey is like a tapestry woven from threads of healing and self-discovery, with art as the loom that brings it all together. It all began during my tenure at a rehab center in Asheville, NC, where I found myself immersed in the complexities of mental health while neglecting my well-being. Struggling to balance the weight of others’ struggles with my own, I realized that traditional counseling methods weren’t enough to mend the fractures that lead to addiction. That’s when art emerged as my lifeline, offering a sanctuary where I could untangle emotions and find peace amidst the chaos.
Quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic, with clinical therapy held on Zoom, I created a treatment plan that blended art therapy, building self-esteem, and hiking while serving as the house manager for girls in treatment at a recovery center in Asheville, NC. Unable to leave the house, our days were spent exploring the depths of creativity and nature, a therapeutic respite from the world outside.
During this time, I began selling my artwork on Etsy, initially as a hobby, but soon finding unexpected success. It was a revelation, realizing my passion could blossom into something more. I have always found serenity and love in art, design, and creative projects. Still, with the experience of witnessing my family and I weave in and out of financial insecurity, I remember thinking it could never be a career I could pursue if I always wanted to have a pocket full of escape funds. I know that was already my fight-or-flight thinking even before age 10. As months passed and I navigated the tumultuous waters of recovery, fate intervened again.
My journey, marked by struggles with substance use disorder and complex PTSD, unveiled to me the transformative force of vulnerability. It’s about embracing the courage to acknowledge when I’m not okay, to persist in therapy even when every instinct urges flight, and to confront the relentless whispers that undermine self-worth. For too long, I evaded the internal work needed for proper healing, instead projecting advice onto others embarking on their recovery journey, urging them to confront their demons. In doing so, I unwittingly shielded myself from facing my pain. This facade of having it all together sustained me for years until the facade crumbled. It would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that during my tenure at the rehab center, I, too, grappled with a hidden relapse, seeking solace in avoidance while encouraging others to embrace honesty.
Connor and I crossed paths in a twist of fate, a serendipitous encounter that changed our lives. After my journey through treatment and relapse, I found myself back in Charleston, SC, seeking solace and a fresh start. Little did I know, destiny had other plans in store. Both Connor and I were navigating separate paths of recovery from substance abuse and trauma when we found each other. Our relationship became a sanctuary where we could confront our past together, acknowledging that growth sometimes requires unity and solitude. We committed ourselves to breaking free from the cycles that bound us, embracing vulnerability as a pathway to healing. We vowed to love the dark and light we had within ourselves, self-inflicted and inflicted during our upbringings. From the moment we met, we couldn’t have predicted the fast whirlwind of love, passion, and otherworldly dedication we were experiencing together—nothing like I had ever felt before. The night we met, I told my best friend I knew I would marry him. Instantly drawn to each other, we embarked on a journey to change our lives forever. Against the advice of those in recovery, we quickly moved in together, blending our lives, and looking back, we agree that going against the grain was the first “impulsive” decision we made correctly. It wasn’t perfect; it was hard, and navigating the first “healthy” relationship built in painfully honest transparency and respect was wildly uncomfortable for us both. My nervous system and trauma responses told me to leave; it is impossible to trust anyone, you will get hurt again, and this was too good to be true. The intense anxiety I felt was like bookmarks, letting me know which areas of my being I have to heal. It was the first time I felt safe, and my body didn’t know how to react when it wasn’t necessary to be on high alert or completely dissociate from reality.
While working full-time jobs and cooking in fine-dining restaurants, my partner Connor and I shared a love for art and creativity. We spent our free time creating art, music, surfing, and skateboarding. It was enchanting and inspiring to have a partner who was also my best friend. Connor’s craftsmanship flourished as he experimented with building frames for my artwork, seamlessly merging our talents into a unified vision. Despite how seamlessly it felt to see our artwork together, we took almost a year to take the leap of faith to believe we could build a sustainable business together and paused on quitting our jobs.
In rehabilitation programs and 12-step recovery programs, our lives were centered on going to meetings and focusing on the addiction itself. It wasn’t until we realized that the way we were coping with life wasn’t bringing us joy that we understood that it was possible to eventually want to escape from reality again. Finding a balance between finding the right therapist, therapeutic plan, coping skills, and hobbies and making it possible to turn our passion into a full-time job was more beneficial than spending every day in the walls of 12-step meetings talking about substances.
Months later, we took a leap of faith and embraced art as our full-time pursuit. We supplemented our income with side gigs to ensure we had enough to sustain ourselves. Our passion and determination to find artistic fulfillment and professional success fueled this leap of faith. Building a small business was scary, as there were months without selling a single piece, but we persevered, working endless hours to promote our heart’s work. We kept reminding each other that no matter what happens, we must ride the wave and supplement our income when needed, but we should never give up.
It wasn’t until I faced my mortality after navigating countless near-death experiences in my early twenties that I decided to reclaim my life and seek help. This experience is always at the forefront of my mind, reminding me of a time when I didn’t want to live. Now, I have a partner, fur babies, and a mission to cultivate awareness with art to live for. Even if times get tough and art sales decline, I will do everything I can to ensure that this new life we have built using love and creating beauty is the “career,” I will never lose faith in.
Connor’s journey mirrored mine in its struggles and triumphs. Despite a vastly different upbringing, we shared a common thread of negative beliefs and fears, finding solace in each other’s stories. Together, we embarked on a creative odyssey under the banner of visceral home, blending his craftsmanship with my abstract visions to create artworks that speak to the depths of the human experience. No matter what circumstances you have faced in life, as humans, we are driven by our nature and emotions to find meaning in our existence while navigating the world around us.
Our artistic process is a deliberate dance between mediums, incorporating everything from sand and wool to concrete and healing crystals. Each piece is a testament to resilience, a visual narrative of trauma and triumph that transcends words alone. As we navigate the art world, we strive to break down the barriers of mental health stigma, offering a beacon of hope for those walking similar paths. Through our art and written musings, we invite others to join us on a journey of healing and self-discovery. With each brushstroke, we aim to spark conversations and empower others to embrace their own stories, knowing that healing begins with vulnerability and ends with strength.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Navigating the twists and turns of entrepreneurship and artistic expression has been quite the ride—a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs that have shaped our journey. Dealing with imposter syndrome has a theme that comes and goes—the persistent feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt despite evidence of our accomplishments. As artists, we often compared our work to established artists, questioning whether we truly belonged in the same arena.
Trying to sell art in a city like Charleston, where the local scene favors ocean landscapes and oyster paintings, presented its challenges. We’ve been tempted to try different styles to fit in, but it always felt inauthentic. So, we’ve stayed true to ourselves, even if it meant swimming against the tide. Social media has been accessible, too. As much as we pour our hearts into our work, finding our voice in a platform that favors specific influencers is tough. But we’re learning to balance authenticity with building connections, one post at a time. Financial stress has added another layer of complexity to our journey. Starting a small business in a shaky economy without the safety net of a loan meant we had to handle everything ourselves, from marketing to finances. It’s been a juggling act, leaving us with less time to create the art we love.
To make ends meet during lean times, we’ve taken on side gigs, sacrificing precious hours that could have been spent painting. Building brand loyalty online as emerging artists without deep pockets or marketing expertise has been a real challenge. But we’re storytellers at heart, pouring our souls into each creation and hoping to connect with others on a deeper level. Despite the hurdles, we’ve persevered. Every setback has only fueled our determination to pursue our passion wholeheartedly. Our struggles have become part of our story, shaping us into the artists and entrepreneurs we are today. And with every obstacle, we’ve emerged more muscular, resilient, and committed than ever to sharing our art with the world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, tell us more about your work next.
We decided to operate under “visceral home” to keep the door open and not fall under one particular media. That may be what we are most proud of, striving to remain teachable and open-minded to new ventures in art and design, a fusion of shared and individual practices, and experimenting with contrasting natural earth compounds and structural elements. Each material plays a role in evolving into new and never-before-seen conceptual designs, from plaster and concrete to foraged rock pigment and hand-spun yarn. Connor begins the process by crafting unique wooden sculptures and building canvases while I create the beating heart through painting, texturing, and detailing. Every piece is framed in Connor’s hand-crafted frames, each a testament to our dedication to honoring and enhancing each other’s works. We think of the canvas as the beating heart and Connor’s framing as the home it needs to survive.
Our inspiration stems from the human condition and how the psychology of design and art influences the lives of all of us. Even if you deem yourself “not an art enthusiast,” humans consume different art forms daily—art in film, art in the decision to paint the wall in the supermarket green. We’re passionate about creating artwork that evokes authentic emotions and stimulates meaningful conversations. That’s why we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of our technique and expanding into new conceptual furnishings, aiming to launch our furniture design line in 2025.
As lovers of interior design and architecture, we draw inspiration from various styles and periods. We cherish the opportunity to work alongside interior designers, creating custom artwork for their thoughtful blueprints. Our aim is to create pieces that feel like investments—original works that transcend fleeting trends and become cherished heirlooms. We’re deeply fascinated by the psychology of home design and its profound impact on mental health. We’re committed to creating spaces that feel authentically personal and therapeutic, and we hope our art can bring a sense of calm and joy to your spaces.
Art is not just about aesthetics—it’s about storytelling, dreaming, imagination, and connection. We’re drawn to earth tones and wood grains, channeling intense emotions into our work and setting intentions for each piece to find its perfect home. Whether it’s a spontaneous creation or a carefully planned project, we believe in the transformative power of art to enrich lives and spaces. We have an unwavering commitment to authenticity, innovation, and creating art that speaks to the soul, and we hope to inspire you with our creations.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
Several resources have been instrumental in helping us navigate both our personal and professional lives. With platforms like SHOPIFY, starting our website and managing our products across various platforms was manageable. Their exceptional customer service and user-friendly interface have been a lifesaver for us.
NOTION has become our go-to tool for organization and productivity, offering a versatile platform for list-making, planning, and organizing our workflow.
CANVA has been indispensable for creating beautiful graphics and helping us personalize our websites and social media so that we can genuinely represent ourselves creatively without having a graphic design degree.
PIXELCUT has made me delete every “in the room” art app off my phone. They have these intuitive AI features that I have never experienced with any other app, which makes creating mockups for our products and personal renderings for commissioned works and interior designers a breeze.
SKILLSHARE has been invaluable for learning marketing and social media best practices. With a wealth of classes and tutorials, it’s helped us stay ahead of the curve and hone our skills in various areas of business and creative endeavors.
On a personal level, the CPT Coach app has been a game-changer. Recommended by my therapist, it’s helped me navigate moments of stress and distress, providing a detailed journaling tool to analyze and redirect my thoughts. It’s not just for those with specific mental health challenges—I’ve shared it with friends who have found it immensely helpful in gaining self-awareness and managing their emotions. These resources have played a crucial role in our journey, helping us overcome challenges, improve our skills, and enhance our well-being professionally and personally.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.visceralhome.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/visceralhome/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/visceralhome
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/visceralhome/
- Other: www.pinterest.com/visceralhome/
