Actresses Who Are Artists

Lots of famous Hollywood actresses are also talented artists. They express themselves through painting, sculpture, and drawing, creating art that’s separate from their work on screen. Some studied art before becoming actresses, while others discovered a love for visual arts later in life, using it as a relaxing hobby or a second career. Here’s a look at some of these accomplished women who excel in both acting and the visual arts.

Lucy Liu

The actress is also a visual artist, creating abstract and mixed media paintings that often deal with personal identity and memories. To avoid being recognized, she used the name Yu Ling for many years when showing her art. Her work has been displayed in galleries around the world, including prominent institutions like the National Museum of Singapore and the Manchester Art Gallery. She often builds her large artworks using materials like wood, cloth, and found objects, and her art has been featured in several published books.

Sharon Stone

The actress rediscovered her passion for painting during the pandemic, using it as a main way to express herself creatively. She primarily paints abstract pieces with acrylics on large canvases, drawing inspiration from nature and her personal feelings. Her artwork has been shown in prominent galleries, including the C. Parker Gallery in Connecticut and the Mouche Gallery in Beverly Hills. Reviewers have highlighted her vibrant colors and flowing patterns, particularly in a piece called ‘The Rivers.’ She feels that spending time painting is crucial for her well-being and mental focus.

Alia Shawkat

Alia Shawkat, famous for her acting in ‘Arrested Development’, is also a talented visual artist. She creates detailed, dreamlike drawings, often featuring people and abstract designs. Shawkat has showcased her art in solo exhibitions and published a book, ‘A Portrait of Alia Shawkat’, collecting her sketches. Her style is known for precise lines and a focus on personal, sometimes awkward, moments. She successfully combines her acting work in independent films with her extensive illustration career.

Jemima Kirke

Lena Dunham studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design before becoming known for the show ‘Girls’. She’s a portrait artist who often paints people she knows – friends and family – focusing on genuine emotion and everyday life. When she’s not acting, she works as a painter from her Brooklyn studio. She’s had several solo art exhibitions at Sargeant’s Daughters in New York City, and her paintings are praised for their honesty and the thoughtful, sometimes sad, way she portrays her subjects.

Michelle Pfeiffer

The actress is also a talented oil painter who spent years perfecting her portraits before exhibiting them publicly. She frequently shares her artistic journey online, posting close-up studies of faces and demonstrating classic painting methods. After taking a break from acting to prioritize her family and art, she dedicated herself to painting in a private studio. Her work is known for its beautiful use of light and shadow, creating a realistic style. She finds painting to be a calming and thoughtful activity, a welcome change from the fast pace of filmmaking.

Jane Seymour

A well-known artist, she primarily works with watercolors and oil paints. She turned to art as a way to cope with a challenging time in her life, and it blossomed into a second career. She’s created a large and impressive collection of work, including the popular ‘Open Hearts’ series which has been successful as both jewelry and art. Seymour showcases her paintings of flowers, landscapes, and people throughout North America at her own gallery. Her art frequently explores themes of strength and the beauty found in nature.

Miley Cyrus

I’m a huge fan, and a lot of people only know her for her music and acting – things like ‘Hannah Montana’ and ‘The Last Song.’ But she’s also an incredibly talented visual artist! She makes these amazing sculptures and art with neon lights. Back in 2014, she even showed a collection called ‘Dirty Hippie’ at New York Fashion Week – it was full of bright neon and cool, unexpected objects she found. Her art is really playful and a little wild, using bright colors, fun charms, and things she’s repurposed. Critics say it totally matches her personality – she’s always been experimental and isn’t afraid to break the rules. I see her art as just another way she expresses herself creatively, building on everything she already does.

Portia de Rossi

The actress launched General Public, a company that curates and publishes art, marking her move from acting to the art world. As a painter herself, she also invented a “Synograph” – a technology that turns paintings into 3D prints, perfectly capturing the feel of the brushstrokes. Her goal with this business is to make fine art more available to everyone while ensuring artists are fairly compensated for their work. She often focuses on abstract paintings, playing with texture and using mostly one color. This new venture combines her love of art with her business skills.

Candice Bergen

Best known for playing Murphy Brown, Candice Bergen has also become recognized for her unique, hand-painted handbags called BergenBags. She uses special pens to create detailed and charming designs on luxury bags, often featuring pets, animals, or custom artwork. What began as a fun activity with her daughter grew into a business, and she frequently donates the profits to charity. A skilled illustrator with decades of experience, Bergen’s style is playful and meticulous, and she often receives requests from other celebrities to personalize their belongings with her art.

Francesca Eastwood

While known for her acting, including her role in ‘Old’, this actress is also a passionate painter. She primarily uses oil paints on canvas, creating abstract figures with rich, often dark, colors. Her artwork, displayed in Los Angeles galleries, has a distinctively moody feel that differs from the characters she plays on screen. She often shares her painting process online, and tends to create large, emotionally powerful pieces that delve into what it means to be human. She sees time spent in her studio as essential to who she is as an artist.

Please share your thoughts on these talented actresses and their artwork in the comments.

2026-02-13 01:45