INTRODUCTION
Adrénus Craton, a multi-disciplinary creator, serves as the CEO and founder of United HOUSE Studios, Inc. (also known as the HOUSE) and is the Executive Manager of NOVELMODELS, LLC, collectively forming the world's first globally-networked boutique agency with over a decade-long track record dedicated to pioneering next era creative business culture driven by authentic, ethical, sustainable, purposeful, and impactful (ÆSPi) creator initiatives.
EARLY LIFE + ART
Born and raised in Texas, Adrénus began her creative journey from the time she was a little girl, passing artwork under her parents’ door. At the age of 12, working on a school project, she became aware for the first time she wanted her art and creative energies to be a source of light, to someday, somehow, be part of something greater than herself—something that would help transform the world into something better.
She experienced her first public art exhibition at the age of 14, in San Antonio, where she participated in a group show. Graduating a year ahead of her class at age 16, she was offered an art scholarship, but instead, decided to forge her own path in the art world. At 17, already inspired by many historical writers and critical thinkers, she curated her first solo art show in her hometown of Hallettsville. Her exhibition was entitled, “Platonic Art”— bringing to life one of Plato’s poetic concepts of perfection found within imperfection. At age 19, she moved to New York City in pursuit of her passion as a fine artist. In Chelsea, NYC, she presented at a group show with the Agora Art Gallery. Her exhibition was entitled, “Faces” — a collection which brought to life a concept based on life's basic emotions, which according to many creative minds trained in the humanistic discipline, involves living in harmony with one's inner nature and understanding the true nature of reality.
LIFE ABROAD + PHOTOGRAPHY
Several years after her move to New York she began traveling around the world, meeting new people, learning new languages, and studying at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, one of the oldest universities in the world. Notable alumni include the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, poet Jan Kochanowski, and Pope John Paul II. Her exploration of new places and new inspirations for artistic experimentation all led to the development of a multi-genre body of work. Adrénus’ work now includes paintings, photographs, socially-conscious creative collaborations, short films, interviews, documentaries and tales of her own personal adventures.
Her work has been published with the likes of Fashion TV, British Vogue, American Vogue, Suitcase Magazine, Amica BG, Italian Vogue, L’Officiel Italia, Forbes Russia and The Fashionista.
PHILANTHROPY
Living and traveling throughout Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Far Eastern Europe and Africa, Adrénus became involved with many charitable and philanthropic projects. Her paintings have helped raise significant monies for charities around Eastern Europe and the United States. One charity that remains close to her heart is the Art of Elysium, with whom she was invited to participate in their life-changing #artheals initiative in Los Angeles.
This philanthropic spirit paved the way for the founding of the world’s first socially-conscious concept for a modeling agency in 2011, dedicated to the beauty of ethical fashion and philanthropy, NOVELMODELS™. While living in Shoreditch, at the center of one of the most artistically-dynamic districts in London, Adrénus also founded London HOUSE Studio (now known as United HOUSE Studios, Inc.). In her new role as a creator and a producer, she engaged with incredible teams of photographers, filmmakers, editors, fashion brands, models, designers, hairstylists, makeup artists and other fine artists. All of it was done with these ultimate goals in mind: 1) to create a platform for greater social awareness of the world’s most pressing issues, and 2) to improve the industry’s ethical and moral standards from within, with like-minded creatives.
MORE RECENT | ART + CREATIVE COLLABORATION
After relocating to New York City in 2017, Adrénus developed New York HOUSE Studio. There, she began planning her next art exhibition and studying “Postwar Abstract Painting” at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). In November of 2018 she presented at a group exhibition by Saatchi Art in Brooklyn. The large scale pieces exhibited and sold were from her life’s work collection entitled, “Battle of the Soul”— another highly inspired set bringing to life her own personal views and poetic philosophies of the seven sins and seven virtues. This ongoing collection first debuted in Eastern Europe in 2010. It was exhibited again in 2016 at a self-curated show in London, UK at the artist's studio in Shoreditch.
From late 2018, in harmony with Adrénus’ parallel life as fine artist and producer in the creative industries, she began working alongside some of her greatest inspirations, primary being the socially and environmentally-conscious, vegan, fashion photographer, Alexi Lubomirski. Her exposure to Lubomirski, his work and being part of his incredible team (namely, Emily Jean Ullrich and Anne du Boucheron), counts as one of her most valuable learning experiences on her creative journey, thus far.
In the spring of 2019, Adrénus departed New York City for her roots in Texas, re-evaluating her goals, re-aligning her spirit and reconnecting with her life’s purpose. At this time, Adrénus came across the grantLOVE project, founded by LA based artist and philanthropist, Alexandra Grant. This in turn, led to a collaboration with Alexandra, championing the founder's profound mission to capture the human spirit with the grantLOVE brand. It has been the beginning of an incredibly, well-timed collaboration, beautiful in message and vibrationally in sync with the direction Adrénus has begun moving in creatively.
Returning to NYC the following summer, Adrénus moved out of her brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, on the historic Cranberry Street, into the Upper East Side. Being within walking distance to the natural beauty of Central Park, she was able to gain the inspiration to complete one of her most defining pieces to date. She debuted this solo piece at The Assemblage NYC, as part of her new METAMORPHOSIS series of large scale, all-white, heavily textured and detailed oil paintings. This series is in expansion of her ongoing “Battle of the Soul” collection.
PRESENT DAY
Currently, Adrénus resides in the US. In June 2021, she became a member of the South Central Texas Art League, where she volunteered her time at the historic Hallet Oak Gallery as a consigned artist. Now exclusively represented by United HOUSE Studios, Inc., her latest artworks and collaborations include a Smithsonian Institution sponsored environmental community project which debuted in March 2022, and a part in a Smithsonian commissioned youth project. Also in 2021, Adrénus became Chief Executive Officer, President and Founder of a first-of-its-kind, all in-HOUSE, globally-networked, creative collective United HOUSE Studios, Inc. (a.k.a., the HOUSE), and Executive Manager / Founder of the HOUSE’s own next era boutique mother agency, NOVELMODELS, LLC. Dedicated to ethical fashion and philanthropy, her companies’ focus remains on all aspects of ethical fashion, philanthropy, sustainable design, purposeful product makers and impactful initiatives. Remaining open let the way to her most recent collaborations, including, MAZEHUAL Lavaca Area Moms, Inc., Saheli Women, Mariama Camara and Simon Whitehouse (founder of EBIT™ and former CEO of ‘sustainability pioneers’ Eco-Age).
As an empath and a dreamer (and true to the parallel nature of her life’s work), she continues to enjoy her multi-disciplinary roles as fine artist, photographer, creator and producer of socially-focused, humanity-driven, high-vibrational, thought-provoking projects.
