We recently connected with Gabriella Karimi and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriella, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I majored in Fine Art in college – focusing on painting and printmaking. I felt alive creating and being in the studio, finding my self and my style through the medium of woodcut. I was told by a professor that if I wanted to be an artist I needed to support myself through another job in order to survive. My art would not be enough. I was already a pre-medicine major as well, so with this advice, I ended up going to graduate school to become a Physician Assistant. I worked in various fields (urology, emergency medicine, urgent care) as a full time PA, pushing my creative side to the sideline for almost a decade. In 2022, I decided to take a step back from medicine, a field where I had grown comfortable but not satisfied, to focus on art again. This was not only a risk to my way of earning a living but also to my identity. I had expected the transition to be seamless and be able to jump right into art again without feeling like I had missed a beat. But in reality, this shift was very difficult and continues to be. I am so passionate about creating that I remain optimistic and am just giving myself time to ease into what feels right on this still new career journey.

Gabriella, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I found a love for art in highschool, stretching my first canvas ignited my curiosity to create. In undergraduate, I began my work in relief printing, driven by an interest to explore form through
light; the human figure as my muse. Getting to know how the human body functions working in the medical field has greatly impacted my artistic style. With this as my foundation, my current work centers on creating a narrative about body in
space through exploration of the female figure specifically. Inspired by her physical form, I aim to create paintings evocative of her presence through an abstracted lens. I work in the moment: using layered media, energetic strokes, and bold palettes to reveal an image that lives in both abstract and figurative worlds.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Creating helps me get to know myself and understand myself. Making art is a medium of self expression without judgement, without logical thinking, or overthinking. The process of creating a piece helps me connect with my feelings and examine them, and I am changed through this process. When someone else recognizes something in my work, that speaks to them on a personal level, and leaves them changed as well, that is so rewarding.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I am currently in a life pivot. I have just entered motherhood and am exploring how this new role informs not only my art but also my identity. It comes at a time where I am transitioning to a full time creative career as well. I am entering these changes head first with excitement and patience!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gabriellakarimi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellakarimi_art/