#87: Athena Ferox

We're joined by interdisciplinary artist & passionate dancer, Athena Ferox, who tells us more about her latest project 'Odyssey', sculptures by Shayla Faye, Christian Dior Fall 1992, and much more!

Athena Ferox is an Interdisciplinary artist whose passion’s span into Sound Design, Sound Composition, Visual Arts, Photography, Videography, Fine Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Fashion, Dance, and Graphic Design.

Her creative journey began in early childhood, singing before she could talk and walking runway by four. Athena stepped up as chair for her mom’s decade old modeling agency and began coaching and curating shows during her early teens. Alongside her early modeling career, she immersed herself in sewing and dance, training in Contemporary, Ballroom, Hiphop and Jazz funk.

Music then became Athena’s primary fixation. She performed in countless choirs and a cappella groups, competed in solo and national singing and talent competitions and in that she dove into sound composition back In 2015, she began mixing and arranging. Since then, Athena has continuously refined her sound, “working toward an album that highlights her vocals” while also aspiring to return back to runway.

In Visual arts, Athena’s work is equally dynamic. She is known for experimental cinematic portraiture, often utilizing a moody, cool-toned saturated color palette. Athena’s fine art and landscape photography focus on capturing the elusive “chiaroscuro,” while her drawings and paintings with charcoal and pastel reveals her passion for raw expression, graphic and multimedia design alongside brand strategy have been her self taught career for 10 years.

We welcome Athena to The FRM Newsletter to share what she’s been into recently!

🎨🇬🇧 Art

I could gush over J.W Waterhouse’s collections all day. In ‘Circe Invidiosa’, Hera is both so regal and tragic. Just the movement of realism and mere depictions of femininity throughout his essence, remains ever so gorgeous.

🧥 Fashion

When I think fashion, two collections immediately come to mind: Christian Dior’s Fall 1992 and Vivienne Westwood’s Autumn/Winter 1997. There's just something about leather that’s always just had a chokehold on me. It's not just the versatility or the undeniable sensuality. It's the way it exudes danger and timeless rebellion. You could NEVER go wrong with a leather moment!

🗿 Sculpture

For those who seek art with deep narrative, Shayla Faye’s “It’s Not My Nature” series is truly unforgettable. Experiencing these bronze Ambrosia Fairies, beings who create the gods ‘Nectar of Immortality, was an honor, their otherworldly forms transcend!

📸🖼 Photography

If Identity’s a performance Claude Cahun absolutely mastered it–through their surrealistic self-portraits that defied convention and challenged gender norms way back in the early 1900’s. Artists that make one question, are truly the purest to me.

🌬🎶 Music

There’s this feeling I’ve been chasing, a way to capture memories or parallels in sound. That’s what led me to create “Constellation and Odyssey”. Constellation is about exploring scenery, like a soundtrack to places that exist in past corners of your mind. Odyssey shifts genre, emotion, and location, taking you on a journey that feels unpredictable yet intentional. One rooted in stillness, the other in movement. My hopes are you tune in!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrrz62_z2SfUBdlq9A_F4M-G6VWgJ6oFO&si=Gr5BnaKPaHD3BJMw

🎹 Music Composition

Been unwinding to Spiegel im Spiegel”–Arvo Pärt (1978) as of late. The interplay between piano and violin is so peace invoking.

🎭 Film/Musicals

When it comes to film I would always recommend musicals as a way to digest reality through a reflective-audiotonic lens. Moulin Rouge shows how love and art become ensnared in a cruel machinery of a system that feeds on dreams. The visuals, couture and reference will keep you cozy ;)

📚🤹 Book

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”

I’m reading Macbeth by William Shakespeare at the moment–it explores power, ambition and fate.

🍱🍣 Food

Can I just go on record and say cuisine will unfortunately be one of my last meals. Respectfully–let me die on that hill. Have you even lived, if you never tried A Deep Fried Californian Sushi Roll ughh. If you don’t enjoy sushi, atleast enjoy the craftsmanship.

🇿🇦👈 Travel Tip

Travel locally, explore South Africa! It’s the prettiest place on earth. You really don’t have to go far to find something incredible.