Meet Courtney Houston | Installation Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Houston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I’m learning more about how I should balance my work life and personal life each day. Being that I work for myself, I use to think that I needed to be in grind mode literally all the time. I would feel bad or like I’m being unproductive if I wasn’t doing something creative. I’m my own worst critic, so I would genuinely feel like a bum for having rest days. As I mature, I recognize that coming up with unique ideas and executing them can be taxing on my physical and mental so I’ve learned to give myself grace. Sometimes that means working nonstop for a week straight, then spending the following week lounging around. It honestly just depends on my work load for the month.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I create custom life sized art installations that are typically about 8ft tall and 8ft wide and serve as a unique set for people to take pictures in. I pride myself on creating art that’s inviting, making viewers want to interact with it. I began dabbling in set design as a way to have full creative control during photo shoots that I was wardrobe styling for. Chicago is known for having unpredictable weather at times so I taught myself how to be resourceful in order to produce eye catching content. The biggest lesson that I’ve learned along the way is to stay true to who I am as a person and creative. Staying in my own lane has helped me to remain a trend setter instead of getting lost in the sea of sameness that tends to plague this industry. I would like for the world to know that I’m just getting started and my best has yet to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend of mine was visiting from out of town and coming to Chicago for the week, the first place I’d bring them to is Hyde Park. We could have brunch at Chemistry, do a little shopping at The Silverroom, have a few cocktails at the Mesler and choose to have a nice dinner at either Virtue or 14 Parish depending on their mood. We’d eventually make our way to Bridgeport to hang out at my studio so I can show them some old and new projects that I’m working on, then I’d take them across the hall to The Outfitt HQ to shop unique vintage and modern pieces. Since we’d be in the area we would have to check out the Bridgeport Art Center and Lacuna Lofts to satisfy our art appetite. If my friend wants to catch a night time vibe we could also go to the Blind Barber or Money Gunn or choose from a host of rooftop bars in the West Loop area to listen to some great music over drinks. At some point we would have to swing by Round Two or Leaders just for the experience at the very least.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost I would like to give a shoutout to God. For without him I am nothing and my talents are useless. I also would like to dedicate my shoutout to all of my family and close friends for always supporting me, loving me unconditionally and providing me with endless encouragement.

Website: https://courtdinate.com

Instagram: @courtdinate

Other: TikToK: @courtdinate

Image Credits
Photographer(s): Ray Abercrombie Tyree Williams