New Visionary Podcast: Recent Episodes
Visionary Art Collective
New Visionary is a podcast for artists and creative entrepreneurs, featuring conversations with some of the most inspirational visionaries in today’s art world. Hosted by Victoria J. Fry, founder of Visionary Art Collective and New Visionary Magazine.
S1 E41.In this special episode, Victoria shares valuable insight when it comes to building a sustainable art career. The key? Find moments of joy and create with intention. Stay tuned for the next season of our podcast, coming September 2023!
To learn more about working with Victoria visit https://www.visionaryartcollective.com/3-month-mentorship-program
Take 2-3 minutes to complete our application form and Victoria will be in touch with you. Please know that spots are limited and book up quickly!
Join our newsletter:
visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
S1 E40. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about creative entrepreneurship with Sarah and Grant Nestor, founder of Hammies. Based in Santa Barbara, the power couple launched their retro clothing brand in 2017 to bring back popular styles from the 1960s-80s. In this episode, we chat about the glows and grows of launching a business and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Here’s what we discuss:
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What inspired Sarah and Grant to launch their clothing company, Hammies, and how it’s evolved since 2017.
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Why it’s important to jump in and launch your creative business, rather than waiting until you feel ready. (hint: there will never be a perfect time!)
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How bringing your authentic self into your brand ultimately makes your business more unique and builds trust with your audience.
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The importance of setting boundaries and separating your business from your personal life.
About Hammies:
Hammies is a retro clothing brand specializing in classic summer styles from the 1960-80s. Hammies is best known for its 70s-era corduroy shorts but its product line has expanded to include corduroy bell bottoms, terry cloth tops and rompers, and 60s-era cabana sets and bikinis to name a few. Grant and Sarah believe that fashion peaked in the 1960-70s and it is their mission to continue that legacy.
Instagram: @hammiesshorts
Website: hammies.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Join our newsletter:
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S2 E23. Tune in for a powerful and uplifting conversation with Mona Lerch, visual artist & founder of Women Art United Movement. In this deeply personal episode, Mona shares her journey with postpartum depression and how painting provided her with a space to heal through this experience. Additionally, Mona tells us about her company and why she’s so passionate about supporting women artists worldwide. Here’s what we discuss:
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What led Mona to transition from performing arts to visual arts, and how painting became a pivotal tool in overcoming postpartum depression.
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The importance of trusting yourself and allowing your work to shift, evolve, and change.
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Why Mona felt called to create a powerful global community to support women artists.
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The clarity that comes with asking yourself, “does this part of my creative business bring me joy?”
About Mona:
MONA LERCH is a contemporary mixed media visual artist and entrepreneur residing in
Brno, Czech Republic.
In 2020, she began working towards creating a safe space for women artists to empower them in their journeys and increase their visibility through diverse art opportunities. Amid the world pandemic, she launched an international online platform Art Mums United dedicated to supporting other artist mothers and caregivers, and later Women United ART MOVEMENT. In 2023, the two platforms merged to create one powerful movement advocating for women in the arts.
In addition to organizing solo and group exhibits, Mona also coaches artists through her monthly membership, 1:1 sessions and online programs. She is the host of Women United ART PODCAST and Editor In Chief of Women United ART MAGAZINE, a quarterly publication that highlights extraordinary artists, inspiring industry leaders and remarkable art organizations.
Mona Lerch
Instagram: @monalerchstudio
Website: monalerch.com
Women United Art Movement
Instagram: @womenunited_art_movement
@womenunited_art_magazine
Website: womenunitedartmovement.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Join our newsletter:
visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
S2 E22. In this special episode, Victoria provides valuable guidance in response to the questions below:
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I’m an emerging artist and ready to start getting my work out into the world. What’s the first step I should take?
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I’ve only sold a handful of paintings and one of my biggest goals is to sell more work. Where should I start?
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How do I balance my art-making with the administrative side of things? I feel overwhelmed and could use your help.
Plus, Victoria shares a powerful affirmation with you to help shift your mindset.
To learn more about working with Victoria, visit visionaryartcollective.com and head over to the "programs" tab. You'll find information about her 1:1 mentorship program, as well as her group mentorship program, The Artist Glow-Up.
If you're wondering which program is the better fit for you, send Victoria an email at info@visionaryartcollective.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter:
visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Join us for an inspirational conversation with Paulina Ree, an artist and entrepreneur based in Oslo, Norway. While pursuing her own art career, Paulina founded a powerful art community known as Female Artists Oslo. This organization provides women artists with opportunities to connect and share their work globally.
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Paulina’s journey as an artist, from relocating to the United States from Ecuador as a teenager, to taking classes at FIT and eventually moving to Oslo, Norway where she currently lives and works.
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What led Paulina to focus on portraiture, mental health, family, and motherhood in her work, and her personal connection to these themes.
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The importance of joining an artist community and getting clear on your goals hint: both are essential to your growth as a creative individual!)
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The reasons why Paulina launched Female Artists Oslo, an organization that provides opportunities for women artists living and working in Oslo, Norway.
About Paulina Ree:
Paulina Ree was born in Quito, Ecuador in 1981. She moved to New Jersey, United States at the age of fifteen, and then went on to graduate with a degree in Economics from Boston College in 2006. Upon moving to London, United Kingdom, she worked as a paralegal and studied to earn a Law degree from the College of Law in 2012. In 2011 she moved to Oslo, Norway where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters. Paulina participated in an artist Critique Group with the Artist Mother Podcast program in 2020, which she is still involved in. Additionally, she is continually developing her art practice and has trained under Carl-Martin Sandvold.
Paulina is a member of Artist Mums United, Spilt Milk, Thrive Together Network, Art She Says and The Art Queens Society. Paulina is the founder of Female Artists Oslo and Female Artists Nordic.
Follow Paulina Ree on Instagram: @adiosalasfresas + @femaleartistsoslo
Website: paulinareeartist.com + femaleartistsoslo.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Maryland-based artist Sasha-Loriene shares her creative journey with us in this powerful episode. From discovering her artistic voice and using art as a tool for healing, to launching Black Girls Who Paint and shining a spotlight on black women artists, Sasha-Loriene is making a powerful impact in the art world. Here’s what we discuss:
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The power of art to serve as a vehicle for both healing and visual storytelling, and why Sasha-Loriene chooses to focus on the female figure in her latest body of work.
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What led Sasha-Loriene to launch Black Girls Who Paint in 2017, and how this incredible non-profit organization has evolved over the last five years.
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The ways in which Black Girls Who Paint has impacted Sasha-Loriene on a personal level, and the influence it’s had on the art community as a whole.
About Sasha-Loriene
Sasha-Loriene is a Maryland based contemporary artist whose inner-child healing and self-discovery journey informs her work. As a Liberian-American woman, she incorporates her search for home independent of time, space, and location with her eccentric method of storytelling to create personal experiences that cultivate community wherever it is found. Sasha-Loriene’s current art direction explores both figurative and abstract expressionism art, using bold composition, texture, and personal subject matter to embody the human experience. Specifically, she highlights the intersection between identity (who we are externally), self (who we are internally), and purpose (who we are intrinsically) in this process.
Follow Sasha-Loriene on Instagram:
Website: sasha-loriene.com + blackgirlswhopaint.org
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
In this special episode, Victoria shares 5 ways to advance your art career. Having worked with over 100+ artists since launching VAC, Victoria believes these strategies are absolutely essential for growing as an artist.
Through workshops and 1:1 mentorship, Victoria is passionate about helping emerging artists to build successful art careers. With a belief that long-term success is rooted in sustainable practices, Victoria encourages artists to think about their BHAG's (big, hairy, audacious goals) and to reverse engineer. What small steps can you take today to move closer towards these goals?
To learn more about working with Victoria, visit visionaryartcollective.com and head over to the "programs" tab. You'll find information about Victoria's 1:1 mentorship program, as well as her group mentorship program, The Artist Glow-Up. If you're wondering which program is right for you, send Victoria an email at info@visionaryartcollective.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Based in North Carolina, Jayn Anderson shares her approach to making powerful abstract paintings and advice for building a career as a self-taught artist. Following an unconventional path, Jayn reminds us that we can find success through many different routes (and detours!) and dispels the myth that we must follow one singular path to become successful artists. Here’s what we discuss:
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Why Jayn firmly believes that it is never too late to become an artist, and how starting her art career at 40 was the best decision she ever made.
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What led Jayn to approach her work with a pressure-free, experimental mindset, and how doing so strengthens and invigorates her art practice.
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Why it’s important for artists to embrace change, follow curiosity, and give ourselves permission to explore new territory!
About Jayn
Jayn Anderson is a North Carolina based abstract painter. She spent her childhood on the East Coast before moving to England to study. During her years there, Jayn was afforded many opportunities to travel, including several solo trips. Some of her most memorable travels were to Mallorca, Ireland, Israel, Uruguay and the Czech Republic, as well as many other spectacular locations. These deeply meaningful experiences continue to shape the work that Jayn creates today.
Jayn embraces the inherent chaos of life, thriving in ever-changing environments. Her work mirrors this spontaneity and energy in every mark that she paints. Jayn has a fiercely independent spirit, with an empathetic, old soul. She uses music as a vessel to channel her experiences and the emotions they evoke into her artwork. She prefers not to think about what she’s creating but instead letting intuition and automation be her guide.
When she’s not creating, Jayn enjoys reading, exploring nature and staying active while spending time with her family.
Follow Jayn on Instagram: @jaynandersonart
Website: jaynandersonart.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter:
visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
9. Art & Entrepreneurship: Embracing Your Inner Creator with Charuka Arora
Based in Agra, India, Charuka Arora shares her journey as an artist, entrepreneur, and above all - creator. Since launching the Arts to Hearts Project in 2020, Charuka has built a supportive community for women artists around the globe. Here’s what we discuss:
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How Charuka was able to overcome cultural stereotypes of what it means to be an artist in today’s world, and why she considers herself to be a creator first.
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What inspired Charuka to launch the Arts to Hearts Project, and why it’s important for her to build a supportive community for women artists.
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The reasons why Charuka considers all of her projects to be interconnected, rather than seeing them as separate entities.
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How Charuka was able to rebuild after experiencing trauma (one step at a time), while finding rest and comfort in her studio space.
About Charuka
Follow Charuka on Instagram: @charukaarora + @artstoheartsproject
Website: charukaarora.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Join us for an uplifting conversation with artist & educator Nicole Miller based in Dallas, Texas. Nicole shares her insightful approach to teaching art and cultivating a safe, supportive classroom community. Here’s what we discuss:
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Nicole’s journey as an artist and how her roots in architecture and interior design continue to impact the work she creates today.
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What led Nicole to pursue a career in art education, and why experimentation and exploration are key aspects of her teaching philosophy (as well as her personal approach to making art).
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The ways in which Nicole inspires her students, and how they, in turn, continue to inspire and motivate her.
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Why it’s important for teaching artists - or any artist who balances multiple jobs are responsibilities - to give themselves grace during busy seasons. Hint: don’t be hard on yourself if you need to take breaks from making art!
About Nicole
Nicole Miller has been creating art for over 30 years. She is currently sharing her lifelong passion with students of all ages through teaching. Nicole has spent her life in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, and started her artistic journey with a private tutor. By high school, she knew her path and focused on studying art and architecture; this continued through college, landing her degrees in studio art, interior design, and a master’s degree in education.
Her father was one of her early influences. She saw his architectural drawings and equipment when going to his office after school every day. Through watching him work his craft, she was able to learn to express herself visually. Her work became and still is an extension of what she sees, and it symbolizes her life’s journey. She developed a style for painting things she saw in nature and simpler objects in her everyday life. She uses her journey to connect with her viewers by sparking a mutual feeling of joy, happiness, and gratitude.
Nicole enjoys exploring organic objects in different settings and from other viewpoints while maintaining focus through oil pastels and acrylic paints. Pastels give her the tactile feel she desires, and acrylics push the saturation of color in her artwork. With her strong drawing background, she begins each piece with a sketch, then transfers it to canvas or paper. The result is a work of art heavily impacted by her family, life experiences and a desire to connect heart and mind.
Follow Nicole on Instagram: @nicolemillerartist
Website: nicolemillerart.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter:
visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Building a Career as a Multi-Passionate Creative with Valerie Auersperg
Meet the talented graphic designer behind our magazine, Valerie Auersperg. Based in New Zealand, Valerie balances her work as an illustrator, digital artist, and painter with exciting graphic design projects - including our very own publication: New Visionary Magazine. Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
- The ways in which graphic design has impacted Valerie’s approach to making art, and why planning is an essential part of her creative process.
- The power of visual storytelling, and why Valerie focuses on communicating narratives that are both personal and universal.
- The incredible design work that Val does for our magazine, New Visionary, and how she’s helped us to bring this vision to life.
- Why it’s important to set boundaries with social media, and steps you can take in order to use social media more intentionally (hint: these suggestions will help you to avoid burnout and fatigue!)
About Valerie
Valerie Auersperg is an Austrian artist living in New Zealand who creates acrylic paintings as well as digital drawings depicting pop-surreal scenes in a colourful, dream-like manner. Auersperg explores the world inside and around herself, pairing the expected with the unusual. She focuses on themes such as memory (real and perceived), pop culture and mental health. Her work is a whimsical commentary on how our inner journeys, moods and situations are something that connects us.
Auersperg is a self-taught artist, having worked in fashion and animation, as well as advertising previously. Yet art was always her passion and side hustle. Then, finally, in 2020, she finally took the leap to become a full-time artist. She has had exhibitions in San Francisco, CA and Auckland, NZ as well as been featured in various global virtual exhibitions such as PxP Contemporary’s ‘WILD’ (curated by Alicia Puig), Sergio Gomez’ ‘Isolation Chronicles’, Create Magazine’s ‘Healing from Within’ (curated by Tam Gryn), and Beautiful Things NZ’ ‘The People We See’. She has also been featured in PIKCHUR Magazine, Envision Arts magazine, Fennec Home Magazine and New Visionary Magazine, has been profiled on Create! Magazine’s online blog as well as The Big Idea NZ website, and has been part of the WWF Whale Tail trail in Auckland in 2022.
Follow Val on Instagram: @iamvalerism
Website: valerism.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter:
visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Join us for a meaningful conversation with Painter & Art Educator Priya Vadhyar. In this episode, Priya shares her approach to making art while offering sound advice for artists. Here’s what we discuss:
- Priya’s journey as an artist, from adjusting to life in Mumbai to moving to the United States, and how observing her surroundings continues to impact her paintings today.
- The ways in which discomfort and curiosity can lead us to a deeper place in our creative work.
- Why Priya considers her abstract paintings to be an exploration of what Loren Eiseley calls “ interior geography,” and the ways in which our inner landscapes can influence our perceptions of the world.
- Priya’s work as an educator and the importance of adaptability and creative problem-solving.
- How keeping a studio journal can help us to create with a greater sense of thoughtfulness and intention.
About Priya
Priya Vadhyar (she/her, b. 1980, India) is a visual artist based in Ellicott City, Maryland. In her current work, Priya explores the manifestation of, what Loren Eiseley calls one’s “interior geography,” and the self’s relationship with the sum of things. Her work is an inquiry into the nature of boundaries, and the revelations that lie in juxtapositions. Priya spent most of her formative years in Mumbai. She has a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Mumbai. In 2010, Priya moved to Tucson, Arizona. There, she studied advanced abstract painting with artist Josh Goldberg, who later became her mentor. Priya's work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Outside of her studio, Priya is a teaching artist specializing in drawing and printmaking. In 2021, she created Studio/ Line of Sight, a platform dedicated to immersive online workshops taught by experienced practicing artists.
IG: @priyavadhyar + @studio_lineofsight
Website: priyavadhyar.com + studiolineofsight.com
Visit our website: visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter: visionaryartcollective.com/newsletter
Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Artist, Mother & Author Brandi Hofer shares so many nuggets of wisdom in this inspirational episode. From raising three kids while furthering her art career, to opening an art program for students in her local school district, Brandi’s passion for creativity is contagious. Here’s what we discuss:
- Brandi’s journey as an artist and mother, and the shift she experienced in her practice once she invited her children to paint with her.
- The ways in which Brandi’s approach to creativity pushes long-standing boundaries in the art world and ultimately shows mother artists what’s possible.
- Advice for making art when you’re running on a tight schedule and have limited time to create. (Hint: yes, it’s still possible!)
- What inspired Brandi to write her new book, Colour Me Happy! See your everyday ordinary as extraordinary, and the message she hopes to communicate to artists and mothers around the world.
About Brandi
Brandi Hofer is an artist, muralist, author, and educator. Hofer is most well known for being a successful collected Canadian Artist, exhibiting internationally and across North America. In 2021 she was featured by Create Magazine in their article 28 Contemporary Artists You Need To Know About. Her podcast Colour Me Happy! Has garnered attention as one of the best art podcasts to binge this season by Create Magazine! She will head to New York September 2022 with PXP Contemporary Gallery to the Affordable Art Fair with work from her Taylor Collection inspired and based off of the photography work by photographer Taylor Lorenz.
Hofer’s first book Colour Me Happy! See your everyday ordinary as extraordinary is set to come out October 2022. She has some upcoming big, literally BIG, announcements and projects happening in the next couple of years.
She recently founded an Art Academy partnering with LPSD Lloydminster for students in her local public school district. Aiding in the creative learning in her community.
Her artwork has been featured on national television and can be found in international publications. She has experience in creating custom artworks for designers and translates her artwork into large-scale murals. Some of her collectors include Jillian Harris, Sarah Baeumler, Andrew Salgado, Jann Arden, and Sarah Nicole Landry (thebbirdspapaya).
Hofer has attended creative residencies at Red Deer College, Toronto Island, the Marnay Art Centre outside of Paris France, and in Montreal, Quebec. Her work has appeared in HGTV’s House of Bryan as well as Island of Brian, and featured in a General Motors commercial. Most recently herself and her family at their in-home art studio for an international commercial for Walmart.
IG: @brandihoferstudios
Website: https://www.brandihofer.ca/bhstudios
Visit our website: www.visionaryartcollective.com
Join our newsletter:
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Follow us on Instagram: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
The creative process is tremendously powerful as it allows us to transcend reality. Join us for an inspiring and meaningful conversation with Kasia Muzyka, a painter and designer of Call 2 Love clothing. Kasia is a Polish-born artist, living and working in Minneapolis, MN. Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
- Kasia’s journey as an artist growing up in Poland, and how creativity enabled her to find light during a dark time.
- Why Kasia believes it's important to slow down and carve out intentional time for your creative process to unfold.
- The deep-rooted connection between intuition, mindfulness, and creation.
- What led Kasia to launch her clothing line, Call 2 Love, and the larger impact she hopes to make through wearable art.
About Kasia
Kasia is a Polish-American artist creating intuitive, abstract artwork. Through her work, she aims to take the viewer beyond the ordinary in an individual transformative experience. Kasia’s influence includes mysticism and in-depth exploration of human nature, while also including elements of transcendental philosophy and modern-day alchemy. Kasia considers her work to be an expression of femininity, through which she creates a space for others to connect with their feminine side.
IG: @kasiamuzyka
Website https://www.kasiamuzyka.com/
Join us for a powerful discussion with Sergio Gomez, Chicago-based artist, curator, author, and director of 33 Contemporary. Here’s what we discuss in this episode:
- Sergio’s journey as an artist and the driving forces behind his work.
- Advice for emerging and mid-career artists who feel ready to breach out, and the steps you can take to authentically shift your work.
- Why Sergio decided to open a contemporary art gallery and what led him to begin coaching artists on a global scale.
- Strategies for connecting with galleries and the importance of community.
About Sergio
Sergio Gomez is a Chicago-based visual artist. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, received a MA degree from Governors State University and MFA degree from Northern Illinois University. He is known for his large-scale figurative abstraction paintings and charcoal drawings exploring the cycles of life.
Sergio’s work has been the subject of more than 45 solo exhibitions in the United States, Romania, Italy, Mexico, and Vienna. He has participated in over 150 group exhibitions in Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Austria, Italy, South Korea, England, Kairo, Belgium, and the United States. His work is in the collection of the National Museum of Mexican Art, Brauer Museum, and other public and private collections.
Besides his studio work, Sergio Gomez is an active curator with a career of over 100 curated exhibitions since 2010. He is curator and Director of Exhibitions at the Zhou B. Art Center, Director, and founder of 33 Contemporary Gallery, co-founder of the coaching academy Art NXT Level®, and founder of Amplified Art Network.
IG: @sergiogomezart
Website www.sergiogomezonline.com
In this episode I chat with Helen Driver, London-based artist, educator, & founder of The Rising Space, an art and wellness studio based in London, England. Here’s what we discuss:
1. Helen’s multi-faceted experience as an artist and her journey to creating The Rising Space.
2. How to find your authentic voice to create work that is truly aligned to you, and the greater vision you have for your art career.
3. The reciprocal relationship of teaching and learning in the realm of art education.
About Helen
The Rising Space is a conscious lifestyle brand, offering artisan wall decor and nourishing gatherings to bring balance to people and their spaces. Founded by Helen Driver, a lecturer and designer, The Rising Space grew from a personal journey of intuitive self-discovery and healing. While Helen still teaches and designs, The Rising Space has allowed her to live and work more authentically.
Helen decided to train as a circle facilitator and certified cacao practitioner to hold safe, supportive and empowering space for others. The artworks available in the online shop offer an opportunity to gently pause and tap into a mindful moment. Customers can buy hand-finished print editions, commission artworks to capture memories and take part in various events and offerings, focused on grounding wellness practices.
The Rising Space is a one-stop-shop for slow living in a fast paced world.
IG: @therisingspace
Website www.therisingspace.co.uk
In this episode, I share the story of Visionary Art Collective, our mission, and my own journey as an artist navigating the art world. Here’s what I focus on:
1. The reasons why I decided to launch VAC at the start of the pandemic!
2. The obstacles I faced upon graduating from art school, and the importance of community.
3. The intention of this podcast, and what you can expect to find in future episodes!
About Visionary Art Collective (VAC)
Founded in 2020 by Victoria J. Fry, the mission of Visionary Art Collective is to uplift artists & educators through magazine features, virtual exhibitions, podcast interviews, and their growing mentorship program. To learn more, visit the VAC website or Instagram.
IG: @visionaryartcollective + @newvisionarymag
Website www.visionaryartcollective.com
New Visionary is a podcast for artists and creative entrepreneurs, featuring conversations with some of the most inspirational visionaries in today’s art world. Hosted by Victoria J. Fry, founder of Visionary Art Collective and New Visionary Magazine.