Olivia Grace Bolles, or just Olivia Bee, is one of the “Art Stars” for the Converse/Dazed 2010 Emerging Artists Award. What sets her apart from the bulk of the up-and-comers, though, is her youth. Commending Ryan McGinley as an inspiration, this 15-year-old photographer from Portland, Oregon, shoots diary-style photos of her friends and family.
But don’t expect any less because of her youth; Olivia Bee’s mature photography has already been featured in several magazines including Seventeen, Frankie and American Photo. For Olivia Bee, her work serves as an emotional outlet as well as a documentary of her teen years.
"I'm inspired by the people around me – the interactions between my friends, and the interaction between people and nature,” says Olivia Bee, "but mostly just being a teenager is the greatest creative fuel for me.”
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Youthful Artistic Talent
- Olivia Bee's success at a young age is a testament to the growing trend of young artists breaking into the industry.
- Diary-style Photography
- The popularity of Olivia Bee's diary-style photography reveals a growing trend of non-traditional, personal imaging styles.
- Documenting Teen Years
- Olivia Bee's use of photography as an emotional outlet and documenting tool highlights a trend of teens using creative means to express themselves.
Sectors Adopting This
- Photography
- The rise of non-traditional, personal photography styles highlights a need for the industry to offer more diverse options and services.
- Magazine Publishing
- Olivia Bee's success with multiple magazine features signals a growing trend of publications seeking unique, youthful content creators.
- Youth-led Media
- Young artists like Olivia Bee who create personal and documentary-style content can disrupt and innovate the media industry, particularly in the areas of social media, blogging, and online journalism.
