Ever wonder what happens when fine art gets a sprinkle of fun and a dash of magic? Welcome to Anna Sweet’s world! From creating deliciously colorful donuts to the bold and playful Yummy Bears, Anna’s art is all about bringing joy, sparking curiosity, and asking us how we “consume” art. Her DotNut series is the perfect blend of cheeky fun and thoughtful craftsmanship, leaving us hungry for more—literally and figuratively.
Check Out Anna's Work HERE
Donut art?! What was the moment you thought, “You know what this world needs? Delicious, colorful, donut-inspired masterpieces!”
In 2020 I moved from Key West, Florida to the vineyard laden hills of Dundee, Oregon. After spending a decade creating ocean inspired works such as underwater photographs of women and ocean paintings, my inspiration shifted with my move across the country. The move from sunny Key West to rainy Oregon caused a shift in my work I never could have expected. Suddenly I was in the dead of winter, in a studio with no natural light, questioning, what is art and how do we consume it? Can its purpose be simply to bring joy when it’s most needed? In August of 2021, I began the DotNut series. I was inspired by Damien Hirsts “Dot Series” and thought, “What if the dots were edible?” To emulate how the art world ate up the Hirst series. I spent the next month figuring out how to sculpt, paint, and color match the frosting of 52 sculpted donuts to one of Hirsts Dot paintings. My first piece sold to a collector overnight and I’ve been evolving the series ever since.
Your acrylic bear sculptures are so playful and bold! What’s the story behind these bears? Are they cuddly, fierce, or a little bit of both?
My Yummy Bears are an expansion of my DotNut series that raise the question “How do we consume as a culture?” Yummy Bear is the art collector, he can have anything he wants and he eats up the world around him.
When you’re creating, do you lean more towards a sugar rush or zen vibes? What’s the energy like when you’re working on these sweet and fun pieces?
It’s definitely very relaxing and playful to conceptualize and create all the different styles of DotNuts. I’m constantly gaining inspiration from the world of art, food, and American consumer culture.
If you could make a life-sized version of one of your sculptures, what would it be and where would you put it?
If I could make a life size sculpture, I would make a Ferrari that resembled a gummy. One that kids and adults could sit in and interact with, if it could be edible, even better! I would put this on display in Times Square in NYC for all to enjoy and maybe taste 👅
Your work mixes such vibrant, playful themes with high-end art. How do you balance that line between quirky fun and serious craftsmanship?
If you spend time with me, you’ll quickly learn I’m a type-A perfectionist with a child like nature. I always want to make people smile and have a good time but I’m a perfectionist in my approach. My current body of work depicts this juxtaposition perfectly.
If you were to create a bear that represents you the most, what would it look like? What colors, expressions, or details would it have that scream ‘Anna Sweet’?
This is hard! I would have to say this one might better be described as one of my handbag sculptures. They are filled with telling contents. They tell a multidimensional story about a person. If not a handbag sculpture, it would have to be one very complex bear, it may never even be complete as I feel I am constantly evolving.
Anna Sweet’s art is a delightful reminder that creativity should be sweet, bold, and a little magical. Her playful pieces, like the DotNut series and Yummy Bears, don’t just make us smile—they make us think, reflect, and crave more joy in our everyday lives. We can’t wait to see what tasty creations she serves up next!
Check Out All the Pieces by Anna HERE
