Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaye Garrigan.
Hi Shaye, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I used to feel like I had to choose just one thing to be and stick with it. I studied photography, and once I had that degree, it felt like a marriage. I was committed. People knew me as “the photographer,” and for a while, I allowed that title because it seemed like the only way to make money and stay creative.
Over time, I realized I needed a divorce. That relationship had run its course. Internally I was screaming, I’m an illustrator, an embroidery artist, a painter! It really hit me when I went on a few dates with a guy who only wanted to talk about photography, and all it made me want to do was run. That wasn’t who I was anymore. I felt pigeonholed, like I had to keep showing up as someone I no longer was. So I stepped away from creating for a little while.
After some time, I remembered how my sketchbook had been my safe space in school and that it could be that again. It was the one place where there were no rules to adhere to. It didn’t have to be themed or even pretty, just finished. So I did everything in it. I painted, glued in stickers from street poles, doused it in glitter. That sense of freedom gave me the space to explore more serious work in different mediums. I started creating things I genuinely liked, work that gave me joy just to look at. I figured if I kept making what I loved, it would lead me somewhere that felt good.
It was scary to take my creativity seriously. But with encouragement from my community—and the simple reminder that other people were already doing what I dreamed of—I finally asked myself, Why not me? So I launched my website, ShayeBeBaby.com, and made the decision to figure out how to share this new work with the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. For a long time, the hardest part was giving myself permission to change. I felt stuck in an identity that no longer fit, like I had to stay a photographer because that’s what I studied and what people expected from me. Letting go of that was scary, especially when there wasn’t a clear path forward.
There were also long stretches where I wasn’t creating at all, either because I felt lost or because I didn’t think it would lead anywhere. And of course, there’s always the pressure of making ends meet while still trying to build something new from scratch.
But those challenges ended up shaping me. They helped me get clearer on what I want, and made it even more meaningful when I finally started building a creative life that actually feels like mine.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, and my work lives at the intersection of softness and rebellion. I specialize in embroidery, illustration, and printmaking, and I’m known for blending delicate, often traditionally feminine imagery with bold elements like skulls, bones, and honest emotional language.
My pieces often feature skeleton angels, ram skulls, encouraging words, and lots of pink, a color I used to avoid but have fully reclaimed. Whether I’m making a sweatshirt, a painting, or a hand-stitched design, I want my work to feel like a reminder: you can be tender and fierce, soft and strong, sweet and a little spooky.
What I’m most proud of is that I didn’t give up on creating even when I felt lost, even when I wasn’t sure it would go anywhere. I kept following the things I loved, and over time, they shaped a visual language that feels completely my own. What sets me apart is that I lead with honesty. Every piece I make starts from something real I’ve felt or experienced, and I think that comes through in the work. I’m not trying to fit into a category I’m just trying to create things that feel true.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Determination. I won’t always have inspiration, and I won’t always feel motivated, but I can always be determined. Determined to keep making art. Determined to explore my experiences and be present in this existence. Determined to put myself first, to stop hiding my thoughts and feelings from others, and most importantly, to not abandon myself.
That determination is what keeps me going through doubt, through fear, and through all the unknowns of a creative life.
Pricing:
- Embroideries $30+
- Hoodies $42+
- Mugs $17
- Prints $12+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ShayeBeBaby.com
- Instagram: @shayebebaby
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16PftH5JbV/?mibextid=wwXIfr
