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If we really love something, do we let it go, or do we try to hold onto it as tight as we can? In the short film The Promise of Spring, mother-daughter artist duo Sarah Oliphant and Violet Oliphant-O’Neill grapple with this question, as well as what it means to create in relation to and independent of an iconic legacy.
Though Oliphant may not be a household name, her creations have been widely circulated around the world, to the point where some may argue that her work “has been seen by more people on the planet than any other artist.” How does that happen, one might ask? Well, she is the creator of numerous hand-painted photography backdrops, which are commonly used in portrait photos.
In fact, Oliphant is responsible for setting the scene of many a fashion experience going back nearly 50 years. Magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair use her backdrops in numerous spreads. A variety of high-end and luxury brands such as Hermès and Marc Jacobs commission the artist for custom backdrops for print ads and set design in fashion shows. Furthermore, works by renowned photographers like Annie Liebovitz and the late great Richard Avedon have all used her art to build out their subjects and images. Oliphant is quite literally everywhere we look, though we may not realize it.
While the creative is aware of her work’s impact, she prefers to see her creations more as essential equipment rather than art. Nevertheless, her legacy is not to be underestimated, as her daughter Oliphant-O’Neill attests. “My mother is such a force and such a presence, and I definitely feel in her shadow in a lot of ways,” she says. “When it comes to work, I feel like I need to be just like her, which is great; I would love to be—I want to be like my mom, but our work is different.”
As someone also artistically inclined, Oliphant-O’Neill worked in her mother’s studio from 2013 to 2021 as head painting assistant. Though perhaps never explicitly stated, she reflects on this time period as one where everything she learned served the purpose of benefiting the family business once she took over the reins. In a turn of events, however, she is now building her own practice, focusing on hand-painted ceramic tiles, murals, and interior design.
As Oliphant-O’Neill forges her own path in the art world, director Anna Andersen investigates how legacy impacts both mother and daughter. For Oliphant, who will carry on her legacy and the Oliphant brand after she is gone? And for Oliphant-O’Neill, will the Oliphant name help or hurt her as she sets out to become an independent artist?
To learn more about the short film, visit The Promise of Spring website.
Artists and mother-daughter duo Sarah Oliphant and Violet Oliphant-O’Neill navigate what it means to create in relation to and independent of legacy.
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Oliphant’s painted backdrops can be found virtually anywhere where there’s a printed advertisement, fashion campaign or magazine spread.
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Oliphant-O’Neill assisted at her mother’s studio for a few years before leaving to forge her own path as an independent artist.
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Now they have a short film about their generational business. Watch The Promise of Spring here:
The Promise of Spring: Website
Oliphant Studios: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Violet Oliphant-O’Neill: Website | Instagram
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