Toi, Founder of Iridescent Laboratory LLC
Toi is a free radical scientist and artist based in Atlanta. As a creative, she provides whimsical scientific home/office decor and designs. Fun for STEM lovers and healthcare professionals!
How did you get into art?
“My dad used to buy me those little water color art kits that came with seven primary colors and one paint brush. As I got older, he’d buy me the wooden suit case art kit. It came with oil pastels , water color and color pencils! I started off with bubble letters and box letters I would draw GA Tech's “Yellow Jackets” logo with the bumble bee all the time! Then I progressed onto fake tattoos on my classmates as well as myself. You know the usual Tweety Bird, that dollar sign everyone used to draw & anything per my 4th grade classmates request. And everything I saw after that. “
What do you do and how would you describe your style?
“I design scientific furniture . I’d like to say that I provide whimsical scientific perspectives. I’ve always been a fan of random art, or art that doesn’t really “make sense”. But the fun in what I do is mixing the topic of science that very much makes sense with things that everyone can resonate with. Like plants, and ice cream, flowers, and animals. I’d describe my style as if Grey’s Anatomy and Salvador Dali had a baby and made furniture. “
Tell us a little about your art journey and how you have come to where you are now.
“When I graduated from high school; I had the option of going to school for art, or going to school for science. I went to college for science. I hadn’t created art for eights years, until November of 2018. I was in an abusive relationship and I completely lost who I was down to the bone. That’s when I started to sew and meditate, and I actually came up with my business, Iridescent Laboratory LLC ! Originally I was just going to make science pillows, but the universe had more in store for me. So here I am now, creating and building scientific home and office decor. “
Where does your inspiration come from?
“My inspiration comes from my childhood and the children of today- especially children from the inner city. I was just a kid who loved science and who loved art. I want to show the kids who come from where I came from that they can do whatever it is they want to do. I want to encourage them that just because their parents don’t agree with their dream or just because they’re dreams aren’t “normal” that they can do it! I work on this vision to be their proof.“
Did you go to art school? Why or why not?
“No, I didn’t go to art school. I didn’t feel like I could create a future as being an artist. I also didn’t even know how to create a future as an artist. I don’t regret not going though. I didn’t have a clear vision. I didn’t really know what I wanted out of life at the time. “
Connect with Toi !
Instagram: @ Iridescent Laboratory
Facebook: @ Iridescent Laboratory
Etsy Shop: @ Iridescent Labs
“I am currently working on building new furniture that requires wood, wood working supplies, epoxy and polyurethane chemicals. If you’d like to donate, or if you have any discounts or coupons for Home Depot it would be greatly appreciated. “
Is there something people often overlook in the artistic process that you advocate for?
“I create furniture so the artistic process that I’d say most people over look is the fact that I just can’t “paint over it”! I’m not able to just start over. I only get one chance, so my idea has to be clear before I even start. There’s less freedom on my media versus the freedom a canvas provides. When I start it has to finish clean and clear. “
What’s your biggest artistic accomplishment and how did you achieve this?
“My biggest artistic accomplishment was actually showcasing my work in the Madison Morgan Culture Center Museum in Madison, GA for their “The Chair Show”. It was awesome and random, and definitely a blessing. I mean how many exhibits have chair shows? Crazy right! But it was awesome. It will be in the exhibit until June 2020.”
What are you future aspirations?
“Build, build, build! I want to create a wider variety of furniture with a wider variety of science topics.”
If you could relay a message to your younger self, what would it say? If you could have done something differently, would you?
“A message to my younger self would definitely be “f*ck what they’re talking about, do tattoos!” I’m just kidding. My younger self didn’t know what she wanted to do. No one could tell her what to do, not even me in this time! I wouldn’t have done things differently. I feel like if I had done things differently I’d have a pretty boring life right now. “
Do you have anything you wish to share? Something you wished people knew about you or your art?
“The beauty of my art comes from an unknown place. Most times I wish I knew why I get the visions and ideas that I receive, or even how my brain processes such things. Like most of us do. I wish people knew how much I enjoy manifesting my decor in peoples home, classroom, and office. And how much I want it to be incorporated into everyone’s everyday life for them to think “hey, isn’t that a heart, or lungs”. I want people to see the beauty the human body and the beauty in nature and even everyday life work together. How the science that surrounds us and within us must be taken care of.”
