I was fortunate enough to spend much of my childhood outdoors. While attending nature programs, and hiking and camping with my family, I developed a love of nature and animals. Raised in Massachusetts, I was eager to explore landscapes so unfamiliar than anything I had seen in New England. The northeast has its beauty, but there is something about being in a location so different from anything you’ve ever known. 

As an adult I spent time exploring parts of the southwestern landscapes of the United States; notably, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert. It was truly life changing to witness these places up close. Attempting to recreate the beauty of the southwest has been incredibly fun and also challenging. I plan to keep traveling out there and visit more national parks and natural sites. I also grew up riding horses and come from a family with horseback riding in their blood, so horses have always been a love and artistic subject since I was a child. 

I also care about sharing messages through art, especially ones driven by social change. Some of my earlier work was geared towards animal welfare advocacy and other social issues. Often, I will create more abstract and modern pieces, but finding my stride with landscapes is where I am currently enjoying my focus. 

Carrie Clayton is an artist based in Boston, Massachusetts. She holds a BA in Sociology & Anthropology with a minor in Studio Art from Principia College (2014). She enjoyed art lessons growing up and won multiple first places in local youth art shows. Later, she completed the advanced youth program at Rhode Island School of Design in 2010 in preparation for college. Although accepted into MICA and MassArt, she decided to pursue a liberal arts education. Carrie hopes to find more opportunities to share/sell her art in the Boston community and beyond!