We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raisa Nosova a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Raisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

My most impactful investment has been in my education abroad. Living in Brussels for half a year opened doors to international opportunities as well as an extensive professional network. Among the remarkable projects that unfolded as a result of this investment, are: being awarded the prestigious George T. Dorsch Award for research in Cambodia, earning the spotlight with my first solo exhibition in Montclair, NJ, creating a commission painting for the OSMOS group in Paris, a solo exhibition at Galerie Emeric Hahn in Paris and assisting the director of CCNOA in the organization of a biannual event in Brussels.

This same investment has recently manifested in a mural commission for the Corbetta commune of Milan, Italy, organized by the Mayor. This project granted me complete creative freedom to adorn a mesmerizing 5-story-high exterior wall situated in the vibrant center.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

-( tell our readers about yourself) I am a studio artist, a muralist, an adjunct professor and a founder of a classical drawing and painting program for the youth.

-(how you got into your industry)
Having initially concentrated solely on studio practice, my trajectory took an exciting turn when I was invited to create a mural by a highly driven circle of friends who wanted to open the first boutique coffee shop in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. All of our visions immediately aligned on the design of the artwork, making it such a pleasure to work on the project and see the business, Orso Coffee, come together. In the following years this commission has grown my client base, allowing me to spread my interior and exterior mural work first throughout the tri-state area and then internationally.

-(what type of products/services/creative works you provide)
As a muralist I transform both interior and exterior spaces into unique environments that embody and enhance my clients’ business philosophy.

-(what problems you solve for your clients)
The most occurred challenge I face in the first meeting with clients is that they seek a distinctive and refined transformation for their business, envisioning a unique identity. However, their visual inspiration is often confined to what they’ve observed in other businesses. My responsibility involves delving into their business philosophy, understanding their preferences, and applying my visual arts expertise to craft ideal solutions.

-(what you think sets you apart from others)
My visual problem solving is rooted in diverse educational and professional background. My formal training includes: classical figure painting and sculpture, abstract and conceptual art, glass blowing, apparel sewing, stage design and large scale mural work, commercial photography, digital art, animation, film making, classical music and ballet. Each of my projects undergo a process of multifaceted filtering to determine the artistic approach under which it would be carried out.

-(What are you most proud of)
I am proud of the level of clients that my commission mural work has reached within the few years. I have had the pleasure and the honor to create murals for the Mayor of Corbetta, Milan, for Lucas Portman’s Fashion Baby XZY, for William Etundi Jr.’s You Are So Lucky project, for the Concorde hotel near the MoMA, NY, for the city of Hoboken, NJ and for Bushwick, NY.

-(the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.)
My murals are exclusive, embodying a continuation of my trajectory as a fine artist, showcased in museums and galleries. All of my work is conceived with a profound consideration for future generations, serving as a source of inspiration for creativity, authenticity and critical thinking.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2017 I grappled for a breakthrough with my body of work that addressed the Aftermath of the Cambodian Genocide, which I began a few years earlier on my research travels throughout Cambodia. I knew I had to pivot my form of work which at the time consisted of 4 x 4 foot portraits on canvas.

While exploring Berlin for several weeks during my Artist Residency that year I was overpowered by the city’s efforts to preserve an awareness to the terrors of the Holocaust. I was blown away by the emotionally penetrating design of each memorial, desiring for my work to touch a wide audience in that quiet yet profound way. The unique energy at the conceptual residency program located in the Mecca of urban art scene made it the perfect place to reflect and to sort an overflow of information, ideas and emotions.

Within two weeks in Berlin I found myself painting my first street art in the middle of the night. I felt the drive to go beyond set limits confined by the portable-size canvas as well as the confidence to part with tactile attachment to an artwork. This thrilling experience and new format allowed me to create a world of intersection between ideas and visual elements that had cultivated in me for years. Since then, large scale murals and street art have offered a dynamic platform for my work to reach a broader audience and have a more profound impact.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My first pregnancy, breastfeeding and postpartum experiences restricted my mental and physical ability to continue my work. I was completely unprepared for either of them as perhaps these challenges had been a taboo topic at the time. Instead of fully pausing my creative process I was open to experiment with a new direction of work, which helped me process the new bodily and psychological experiences. This brought me to a new chapter of my journey as an artist and a mother. My adaptation to motherhood, particularly unconditional duty to continuously show up and problem solve on the spot, plays a great role in my resilience to professional challenges thrown in my direction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raisanosova.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisanosova
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user22878265

Image Credits
Joseph Palmieri,  Art by Omar,  Oleh Dubno