the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty

the voices of Meredith Steele + Kristen Fogarty

— q + a —

The first brushstroke from Magik Studios — whether it’s on canvas, a blank wall or a ceiling — ignites a visual journey filled with distinct use of color and imaginative design. Meredith Steele and Kristen Fogarty are the duo behind the paint brushes, specializing in custom artwork, hand-painted murals and installations designed to enhance environments and spark imagination.  

Rooted in the principle of collaboration with their clients and each other, Magik Studios works with commercial and residential clients to transform empty spaces into creative atmospheres. The Denver-based team is skilled in creative consulting to produce artwork tailored to any setting, developing an artistic vision and crafting it into reality. We spoke with the Magik Team about their collaborative creative process, eye-catching projects and their commitment to creating art with impact within the Denver community.  

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    How did you find your calling in custom artwork, hand-painted murals and installations? What drew you to it?
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    Meredith: I discovered my love for painting in college, where I received a minor in studio art. I opened my own studio, Meredith Steele Art, in 2017 and have been a full-time artist ever since. I always loved experimenting with different materials and creating mixed-media art pieces. Soon after moving to Denver and meeting Kristen in 2019, we started discussing collaborating on bigger projects and murals. Art has such a big impact on spaces, and it felt like murals were an even bigger, public way to go about impacting space through creativity.  

     

    Kristen: I started my creative career as a graphic designer and took custom painting and drawing commissions on the side. I learned how to paint murals as an assistant for a decorative interior painter and fell in love with painting on walls and how much our work impacted spaces. I’ve always enjoyed mixing analog art with digital design, so when Meredith and I teamed up, Magik became the intersection of our combined skills in fine art and design. 

the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
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    Describe the process of creating an artful space to enhance your home environment. 
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    Kristen: We determine what’s most important to our clients for the project, get a feel for their style, and help create a space that reflects that. Whether that’s with color or pattern, a piece of art, a mural or an installation (to name a few), we make their visions a reality by designing concepts that respond to and fit with their surroundings.

     

    Meredith: It totally depends on the client and the space. We want our clients to feel like the artwork we add to their home is a reflection of what they love, what inspires them or helps to tell their story. 

the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
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    How does artistry integrate into what you do on a daily basis? 
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    Meredith: I think being an artist has given me a creative approach to my daily life. I love creative problem-solving and trying new ways of doing things. Most of the activities I love — dancing, cooking, gardening, running — are in some way about expressing myself and involve a creative approach.  

     

    Kristen: I like to pay attention to the details. Whether it’s making a meal, arranging a room, or doing yard work, there’s artistry to all of it, and there’s always more to learn.  

the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
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    What project are you most proud of and why?  
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    Meredith: Our most recent (and tallest) mural on The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block felt like the biggest accomplishment yet. Another favorite was a textured wall we completed at a private residence in Boulder. After we applied thick layers of neutral colors, we used different raking tools to create arches and contrasting line variations. The color palette creates a calm environment while the unexpected texture adds just the right amount of interesting detail. The design is sophisticated yet bold and unique.

     

    Kristen: I agree with Meredith, The Maven Hotel was a big accomplishment. Being included among the ranks of creatives and businesses in Dairy Block Alley is something we’re proud of. On a smaller scale, I loved this Airbnb we painted in Charleston with Demilio Design. It was one of our first pattern projects. We got to paint two different abstract patterns in the bedrooms. One of them went across the ceiling, doors, trim and even the fireplace. It elevated a charming old home into something modern while still retaining its timelessness. 

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    How has your art style transformed since you began creating? Why or how has it moved in that direction? 
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    Meredith: It took me some time to really develop my style. In the beginning of my career, I painted so many different series and spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I wanted to focus on through experimenting. Taking risks and trying different methods is something that has helped propel my own work forward. I think this helped me enter Magik with a sense of curiosity and openness to trying new things.  

     

    Kristen: I used to be afraid of being a multi-faceted artist/designer, but all of my creative interests influence each other. I love that I’ve simultaneously pursued art and design because Magik Studios has become a reflection of that from both Meredith and my experiences. 

the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
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    From where do you draw inspiration for your projects?
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    Meredith: I find color relationships, texture and nature to be the biggest source of inspiration. With murals specifically, the existing environment and surroundings are something we are constantly trying to consider and draw inspiration from.   

     

    Kristen: Nature in all its organic beauty is so inspiring. I love dramatic scale and how small details make all the difference.  

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    Describe your experience working as a team — how does this impact your creative process? 
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    Meredith: Our creative process is one of true collaboration. Working as a team has allowed us to learn from each other and teach one another. We both bring so many different skills to the table and it has been so fun to share them. There is also a level of ease that comes with working as a team on projects with wide scopes.   

     

    Kristen: We both have the same work ethic and respect for each other’s talents and opinions — we trust each other. And because we have that, it’s fun to see how our minds approach the same ideas – we’re either on the same page or thinking differently and both ways have their benefits and ways of teaching. Sharing the load also allows us to work more efficiently, set boundaries, and become all-around better business owners than we could be individually.  

the voices of Meredith Steele + Kristen Fogarty of Magik Studios
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    How do you work to create art with impact? 
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    Meredith: In a broad sense, creating art with impact is always the goal. Whether it is a public mural uplifting the community or residential artwork enhancing a home, we want our work to have an impact.

     

    Kristen: And in a literal sense through our Magik Mural Project, in just two years we’ve donated nearly $7,000 to two DPS art programs. We’ve designed community-focused murals sponsored by local businesses and donated 20% of the project budget to a local school’s art program. Creative programs are essential to a child’s development and during the pandemic were the first classes to go. Because of that, we launched our business with this model to make a positive impact on art education in our local community. 

the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
the voices of meredith steele + kristen fogarty
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    To what or to whom do you attribute your success?
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    Meredith: The path to becoming an artist and a small business owner has been something I couldn’t have done without the support of my friends and family. Having people believe in me and cheering me on from the start was huge. Also, the internet and social media made it a lot easier to share my work with a broader audience. I think I have to partially attribute my success to the fact that I started my career at a time when the internet was opening so many doors for artists.

     

    Kristen: My family and friends in Denver and beyond have been my biggest fans and support group. And my husband, who’s in a creative career as well — I wouldn’t be here without his encouragement and inspiration.

     

    Discover more about Magik Studios’ projects and inspiration by visiting their website or Instagram.

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