Imogen Rooney's interest in fashion design started with making mini clothes for her dolls. By the age of twelve she realized that fashion was her niche. As she started reading magazines and watching films she knew she wanted to create clothes. Designing clothing and keeping a notebook filled with designs and drawings helped her through difficult times in her life. Imogen explains, "I moved to the United States from the northeast of England when I was nine, and then from California to Massachusetts when I was twelve. Around that time, my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder really got bad due to all the stress. Art was really what I needed to keep me going--it was consistent. As I became more involved in art, I felt the stress alleviate. I could finally express myself and no longer felt so much pressure. This new outlook on life affected me very positively. As I hit high school, I became more and more involved in the arts and even had some work put in local young artists shows. I was also put in honors level classes which further boosted my confidence. I've always enjoyed art yet it took me some time to be able to use it as a kind of therapy or a diary to express my emotions. While moving and OCD were challenging for me to overcome, I definitely think they helped me become a better artist."

Imogen learned to take her struggles and see them in a new light. This is represented in her artwork through the use of seemingly depressing objects such as skulls and pieces of nature we often dismiss as ugly, such a lichen or Echinacea with missing parts. She explains, "As an artist, I would like to prove that there is no set limit to what can be beautiful. There is beauty and inspiration to be found in everything whether it’s dead or alive, big or small, dark or light. I see potential in the world-the beauty in the decay, the mystery in the macabre. The world is a dark place and there's no use masking this with pretension. Living with obstacles has been a huge part of my life. Over time I've learned to use this to my advantage instead seeing it as a negative thing. Rather than wishing the world was a better place, I seek inspiration in unlikely places."

Her work contains many contrasts- between light and dark, death and life, and urban and rural. She explains that this is representative of her as a person. "I am as Anne Frank describes herself 'a bundle of contradictions'. I am usually clad in full black, yet I am a huge fan of pink fluffy socks. I am fascinated by the paranormal and the concept of an afterlife, yet my biggest fear is death. I am in love with the Victorian era, yet I wouldn't be able to cope without my internet access and iPod. I love looking at nature yet I can't stand being away from the city."

Her heritage is another big influence on her design. Born and raised until she was about nine years old in the UK and returning each summer to visit her father, she has always been intrigued by the history and culture there. As a result, she experiments with new materials in her clothing designs such as tartans and studies fashion trends that originated there (such as the punk movement) which still have an impact on the alternative subcultures of today. It is not just her heritage that interests her and influences her design process. Imogen marvels, "I am also fascinated by Japanese culture, namely street fashion. Clothing is a great method of self-expression. The fact that it resonates throughout eastern and western cultures is fascinating. It can reflect so much about a society’s values and history."

Her personal views on matters such as animals rights are also revealed in her fashion designs and artwork through her use of fake fur and her incorporation of rats which are considered by most people to be ugly vermin, but to her are seen as a highly intelligent species- another example of seeing unique beauty in the unexpected and outside of the cultural mindset.While she wears some of the clothing she makes, Imogen is careful of these works of art. She explains, "The clothes I make for the most part are hanging up because I'm terrified of ruining them! It's like any other piece of art, really--I'm protective and the clothes are like my babies! So if something is made from scratch, I don't usually wear it out unless I know it's going to be safe! That being said, a majority of my clothes are vintage or consignment pieces. As such, a lot of the time I'll find something I love but it won't fit properly--that's the thing about vintage, you can't just ask for it in another size! So lots of my clothes have at one point been hacked up with scissors and sewn back together to fit me! This summer, I'm hopefully (fingers crossed) getting work experience at Northern Print, a printing company who do a lot with screen printing. I also will be sewing this summer! I have a lovely old Singer machine in my room here that my stepmother's mum lent me, and I love using that because it's so different to my machine at home. Last summer I made a corset for my portfolio on it, but it had a zip at the back rather than the full lace-up back and hooks and eyes, so my goal this summer is to make a proper corset! Five or ten years from now I really would love to be working in the fashion business as a designer. Of course, I'd work for a chain or a fashion designer whose clothes I really liked and could see myself designing for. Working with a theater company or with a ballet or making costumes for film would be amazing and definitely something I'd explore, too."

Recently, Imogen has been inspired by artists like Gil Elvegren who painted pin up girls. She marvels, "I found something online that showed the differences between the painting and the photograph it was based off. The models were changed for the painting, which goes to show that the whole photoshopping thing is really not new! Well, maybe Photoshop is, but the concept of changing a woman's appearance for a commercial print isn't. On top of that, I just find the vintage glamour aspect of things really beautiful. I've also been involved with the Slut Walk movement, which is bringing attention to the fact that victims are not to blame for rape cases and that wearing a short skirt is not an invitation. I consider myself a feminist and the Riot Grrl music scene and the message has really been an influence on me recently. I've already had some ideas for pieces based around that whole idea. Art with a message is important because I feel like it can be used to spread ideas. Shepherd Fairey's did this famously with his Obama piece--that became iconic and a symbol for his campaign for presidency. I think it's amazing how people use art as a tool to spread ideas!"

Imogen will be attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the fall. During her first year she will be taking an Intro to Fashion, Body, and Garment class and in her second year she plans to enter the fashion design program. One of the main reasons she chose to go to SAIC was that they actively encourage students to explore other areas of art rather than solely fashion. She explains, "While I adore fashion and there is no question that I want to dedicate my career to it, I'd like to explore other areas such as performance art and even art history because I feel like they can really influence fashion and make it unique. One of my favorite designers is Alexander McQueen (RIP). I saw his work at the Savage Beauty exhibition at the Met and was amazed by how he put a message into all of his clothing. He incorporated performance art into his runway shows.It really showed the clothes in the best light and made them stand out even more than they already did. I was amazed."

Another thing that appealed to Imogen about SAIC is their co-op program in which students get placed into internships with designers and companies that the school has connections with and could potentially can lead to a job afterwards. Imogen also looks forward to being in an environment with lots of other artists. She speculates, "While there is a good deal of competition at the end of the day everybody's goals are different and I think that each person in my group will influence each other. For instance, I know who my roommate is already and she's a photographer. So we could probably help each other out and bounce ideas off one other. It's good to get someone else's perspective on things."

Imogen was the 2011 recipient of the FAS Donna Sherman Scholarship. Her art teachers unanimously recommended Imogen for her strong work ethic, discipline and dedication to her art while demonstrating her unique voice through her work. About her art teachers, Imogen has much to say. "Throughout my high school art years, I've been lucky enough to really be taught and guided by three people. Julie Cook's classes were always relaxing for me and we were given a lot of freedom and space to be creative and express ourselves while also having a set goal at the end. We would have critiques occasionally, and it was really interesting hearing everyone's thoughts behind their work. I also loved how she got local artists to come in and give us lessons occasionally. The way she incorporated the community of Harvard was really great. Sharon Chandler has a background in textiles and has really believed in me since middle school! She helped me tremendously with some of my pieces and taught me to sew properly when I was about fourteen or fifteen. She also taught me not to be scared of taking risks with my fashion and to just have fun. Thomas Linville helped me a lot in terms of being experimental in my work. For instance, at the end of the year I had a painting and he suggested making it 3D, putting it in a box and adding layers to it to make it seem very surreal. The three art teachers have really encouraged and inspired me a lot as did the formation of the National Arts Honors Society. I got to spend time with some great people and artists who I'll definitely stay in touch with!"

To contact the artist to find out more about her work, send email to chipsqueek@yahoo.com.