The Midway Art Report
draws upon work and contributions by projects led by the individual artists of Midway, Midway’s Cultural partners, and the Midway Artist Collective, Inc.
A New Voice in Design & Fine Art: Taylor Coughlin
By Ariel Campbell
Taylor Coughlin is a fresh face in the Boston art scene, balancing her roles as a designer and fine artist. Her recent exhibition at Midway, "SEA(e)SCAPES," highlighted her potential with oil paintings and ink drawings. Looking ahead to her next show in November 2025, Taylor reflects on how her move to Midway has fueled her artistic development. The studio and gallery space, central location, and supportive community have all played a crucial role in her growth, providing the resources and connections she needs to advance her work.
Originally from Dallas-Fort Worth, Taylor’s artistic path began with a fifth-grade Christmas gift of Adobe Photoshop. This early exposure to graphic design led her to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD).
After graduating and spending a few years in Colorado, Taylor felt a pull towards the East Coast, where she once lived as a child. She found a mix of professional opportunities and artistic inspiration since moving to Boston, landing her at Midway Studios.
Taylor’s passion for design and art is inseparable. She works as a Senior New Business Designer at Hill Holliday while also trying to establish her own creative studio and exploring her fine art practice. "I balance it with a lot of planning. Everything is scheduled to ensure I allot enough time to both sides of my practice," she explains. Her dual role as a designer and fine artist gives her a unique blend of creativity and structure. "Art keeps the humanity and personal connection in design, while design provides visual and conceptual structure to art," she says.
Taylor’s unique blend of creativity and structure comes from her dual role as a designer and fine artist. "I don't believe you can have effective premium design without art and vice versa. Art keeps the humanity and personal connection in design, while design provides visual and conceptual structure to art," she says. For Taylor, both sides of her work are essential and inextricable.
Taylor’s move to Midway Artist Studios in February has allowed her to explore both of her creative practices in more depth. The space and community have provided her with the resources and inspiration needed to elevate her work. "The space alone has enabled me to align with my ambition. The community is the biggest resource I've noticed so far," she shares.
Taylor finds the layout of the studios particularly valuable. The open, flexible spaces have allowed her to work on a larger scale, and fully immerse herself in her work. "Since I moved in in February, I've completed more work than I have in the past two years of living in a small apartment that wasn't built with artists in mind."
One of her key supporters at Midway has been Souther, who has helped Taylor navigate the intricacies of the building and introduced her to other artists. "Souther has been extremely helpful in getting to know kind of how the building works and the little ins and outs and kind of introducing me to other artists," Taylor says.
Beyond just working in her studio, Taylor is actively involved in the Midway community. She attends as many events and opening receptions as possible, finding inspiration in how other artists utilize the space. "I've gone to as many of the opening receptions as I can, and I've noticed everyone has kind of used the space in different ways, which has been really inspiring," she says. This engagement has allowed her to build meaningful connections and stay involved in the vibrant community.
Taylor’s recent show at Midway, "SEA(e)SCAPES," explored themes of identity, freedom, strength, and empowerment through oil paintings and ink drawings. "The work uses light, color, and texture to convey the complexities of my experiences breaking free from a stagnant existence," she says.
The show was deeply personal, reflecting Taylor’s journey of self-discovery and ambition. "This show is about being in a stagnant mindset, waking up, realizing it, and deciding to move towards new opportunities," she explains. The imagery of ships as vessels of escape and the resilience of flowers amidst rocky terrains symbolized this transformative journey. Her upcoming show in November 2025 at Midway Gallery will build on the themes of "SEA(e)SCAPES," exploring her experiences and growth since moving to Boston.
Taylor has big plans for the future, including expanding her own creative studio and exploring the fine art scene in Boston and New York. "My biggest goal right now is building up my creative studio and moving more into the fine art space," she shares. Her vision includes integrating design and fine art in a way that elevates both fields. "I would love to give design more gallery space in the art world and approach design as something that supports culture, not just a tool for business," she says. Looking ahead, Taylor is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. She aims to expand her creative studio, move more into the fine art space, and explore opportunities in both Boston and New York. "I want to give both my design and art practices the attention they deserve and see them thrive," she shares.
Midway Artist Studios provides emerging artists with the space, resources, and community needed to develop their careers. Taylor Coughlin is a prime example of how Midway's supportive environment has helped her grow both as a designer and a fine artist, offering her the opportunities to showcase her work, connect with other artists, and pursue her creative ambitions.
