Nell Tryst shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Nell, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
As an artist, I lose all sense of time when I enter that creative flow state. Once I lock into the current of an idea, it’s as if the outside world dissolves. I’m no longer watching the clock, I’m immersed in the process. The journey itself becomes the destination, and in those moments, time doesn’t feel real.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a Minneapolis-based artist known for my vibrant, emotionally charged paintings that explore themes of identity, intimacy, and transformation. I operate under the name Tryst Trigger Artworks and have been a full-time artist since 2020. My work spans acrylic painting, muralism, and digital illustration, often incorporating elements of surrealism and pop culture. I have participated in numerous exhibitions across the United States, including the WNBA, The Minneapolis Heart Foundation, The Guthrie Theater, Art Basel, and the Lynlake Street Art Series. Notably, I painted a bedroom for a retired research chimpanzee at Project Chimps Sanctuary in 2021 and a 60 foot external mural for them with fellow artist Groe in 2024. In 2023–2024, I was selected for the Twin Cities Pride Foundation’s Artist in Residency program,
My work is characterized by bold color palettes and expressive compositions that invite viewers to engage with complex emotional narratives. I emphasizes the importance of steady growth and community engagement in my artistic journey, advocating for a creative process that values personal development over external validation.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I think one of the most important lessons I’ve learned as an artist goes back to childhood, recognizing that my own limiting beliefs were the biggest barrier to my creativity. When you’re young, it’s easy to internalize other people’s voices, to believe that being different or misunderstood is a weakness. But what I came to realize is that individuality and misunderstanding go hand in hand. If you’re truly creating from an authentic place, not everyone will get it, and that’s not a flaw, that’s the point. The moment I stopped trying to fit into expectations and embraced that truth, my work opened up. That’s been my most valuable lesson: that the courage to be misunderstood is the courage to be myself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Success can affirm you, but suffering strips you down and forces you to see what you’re really made of. It taught me resilience, empathy, and patience. It showed me that strength isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about being vulnerable, asking for help, and still choosing to keep going. Success feels good, but suffering gave me depth. It gave me perspective, and it shaped the kind of artist and human I want to be.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
An important truth I’ve come to believe—though not everyone agrees—is that it’s just as important to work alone as it is to collaborate. Collaboration brings energy, fresh perspectives, and growth, but solitude gives you clarity and depth. When I’m alone with my work, I can hear my own voice without interference, and that makes me a stronger partner when I do collaborate. Creativity thrives in both spaces, and I think honoring that balance is essential.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
What I hope people remember when I’m gone is that my work and my life were both fueled by love. Living with a heart condition has made the reality of mortality impossible to ignore—it’s been with me my whole career, not as a shadow but as a motivator. It’s what pushed me to create urgently, to put everything I could into each piece, each moment. I know my time isn’t limitless, and because of that, I’ve tried to make my art a vessel for connection. More than anything, I hope that when I’m no longer here, the love I’ve poured into my work continues to spread—that it reminds people to feel deeply, to live honestly, and to carry that love forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trysttriggerartworks.bigcartel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trysttriggerartworks
- Other: https://linktr.ee/trysttrigger
