We recently connected with Tica Levy and have shared our conversation below.

Tica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

I am very concerned about the environment and the future generations. I have always had the idea to help in some way with my work, so I started to look for used materials that I could transform into art. My main purpose is to assist in the process of creating a sustainable environment, by giving used or discarded elements new life and value.

Wherever I am or any time that I have something in my hands, any simple material (no matter what it is), I try to repurpose it and transform it into something new, usable, and beautiful.

I am very proud of contributing to maintaining the environment by creating abstract paintings with materials that transform and take on an identity of its own. For example, recycled material that comes from nature brings out a unique texture in my art and gives each work life and movement.

Texture is a common theme in my art and something that characterizes my paintings. I incorporate out of the ordinary elements including paper, sponges, beads, plastic, sand, salt, and really anything I find. Each painting has an individual character based on the materials that I use, and these fascinating effects lift the artwork off the canvas far away from flat, lifeless prints. I try to make art as fluid as possible. You’re not quite sure where it begins or when it ends.

The process of upcycling material for texture, not only expresses my personality but also shows my passion for conservation and recycling. It’s a combination and flow of impulses, emotions, imagination, beliefs, passion, and energy.

Tica, 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 was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Since I was a child, I loved to create, draw, and design. This love for creative expression was the motivation to choose my career in Architecture and Urban Design from the University in Haifa, Israel.

I had the opportunity to study, live and work in different countries around the world which helped me to learn about different cultures and develop my creativity and my taste for design.

I worked for several years in Architecture, Urban Design, and Interior Design in Israel, Barcelona, and Mexico City.

While living and working in Mexico I studied Art and Sculpture. Sculpture and painting quickly became a new passion. I continue to work as an artist and use many techniques for giving life and movement in my use of upcycled materials.

I currently live in Tampa, Florida and have been exhibiting my artwork throughout Florida and Mexico.

Tica Levy as an Artist

I create modern abstract artwork with a mixed media process that incorporates molding pastes, cloths, and other materials with acrylic paint. I paint with a brush, a palette knife, my hands, fingers, and random objects that allow me to play with the materials. The fundament of my artwork is an endless combination and play with colors and textures. I use high quality paints, and sculpturing gels.

All my paintings are original, and I never make a second copy. Each artwork has an individual character based on the recycled materials that I work with. By varying the creative process, I get fascinating effects that lift the artwork off the canvas far away from flat, lifeless prints.
I love working with metallic elements, texture, stones, that are highly visual and extremely tactile allowing the piece to change with the day’s light, creating a truly spectacular modern accent piece for any space. Additionally, the three-dimensional work is open to different viewer interpretations.

These contemporary textured designs make my work instantly recognizable as originals. Although I have a wide collection of paintings, some of my clients prefer to order specific artworks to suit their personal emotional needs. I try with my paintings to enhance a person’s mood and help reach inner balance while enjoying the colors, movement, and texture of each piece.

I have had the opportunity to present my work in selected solo and group exhibitions throughout Florida and Mexico.

Tica Levy as an Interior Designer

Working as an interior designer I aim to create comfortable, balanced, and inspiring spaces that add positive energy, peace, harmony, and joy to any living space.
I provide a seamless design process from concept to completion, tailored to your taste: modern, contemporary, traditional, or transitional. I believe it is important, regardless of trends, that your space reflect your style and promote wellness and balance. I take the time to understand your vision and bring it to life at its full potential.

I offer a wide variety of sustainable interior design and decoration services for homes & condos; full project design for new builds & renovation or space planning and design (living room, kitchen/bathroom/bedrooms/dining room/ office etc.).

My mission is to design spaces that not only look pretty, but function well. My professional and personal services prioritize client satisfaction, adding joy, positive energy, and balance, ensuring my clients fall in love with their spaces.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I have many stories to tell, since I moved many times. It wasn’t easy, however, but I always managed and had the strength and motivation to find solutions to problems.

I had an invitation for 6 months to participate in a design project of an airport in Mexico City, so I moved from Israel to Mexico. I did not know, but destiny had in store a big impact to my life, as I met my husband; so, I decided to stay longer.
When the project ended, I didn’t have a job as an architect, but I had an offer from a friend that is an accountant to manage his office. I took the offer and at the same time I decided to study Art and sculpture which fascinated me, until I got pregnant with my daughter. After a while I was taking care of my daughter, but always inventing something and making art, paintings, bronze sculptures, and other creative pieces.

I started selling my art at first to friends and then little by little to people in general.
Today I think that studying art was the best decision that I made. It saved me because I am a very active person and I am always dreaming and inventing things, especially after having worked so many years as an architect, designing houses, malls, cultural centers, theaters, schools, and other structures. I was a little frustrated. I felt something was missing in my life.

After a few years my son was born and I started working as an architect doing mostly interior design (restaurants, bowling alleys, night clubs, bars, etc.). A few years later, I ended up working as a manager to the company but without having time for what I really liked, that is design and the arts.
After a few years my husband had a work offer in Tampa, FL. we moved and I continued working remotely with the Mexican company. I had to put architecture aside because I would have to revalidate my license, working for an Architecture office for a few years and I didn’t have time between my work and the children.
I didn’t want to give up my art, so I started making paintings and sculptures in my free time, at night and on weekends.

When I saw that I had many pieces, I began to think how I could sell them, so I had the idea to make an exhibition in the club house of the community where we live. I invited many people I knew and the residents of the community, I sold some paintings, which gave me confidence to continue.

As time went, people asked me for paintings. I had paintings in some galleries around Florida, and I had an exhibition in a Gallery during Art Basel in Miami.

I did many private exhibitions in premises that I rented myself. As people started knowing me, I was invited to exhibit in different places. I stopped working for the company in Mexico and continued doing my art.

Along with doing my art, I started doing interior design and decoration again, which is what I currently do. This has been very good for me because many of my clients ask me for pieces of art (especially paintings) and it became a perfect match.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I finished high school in Venezuela, I started to study architecture at the local university, but there were strikes all the time which slowed down the study. I thought it would be a good idea to study in another place and I had the opportunity to study in Israel at a very good university. I left without thinking about it much.

I left my parents, my friends, my house, and went on an adventure.
Sometimes my parents would visit me, or I would visit them. These were rare visits because it was so far away and expensive, but I always had their support, despite the distance. They were always there for me, for advice, help, and anything else I needed.

Unfortunately, a few years later, my mother and my father suddenly passed away, and I found myself without knowing what to do. I decided to stay in Israel without parents, without their support, without hearing them, without seeing them, without my friends, instead of returning to Venezuela or move to another country. There was no option to return to Venezuela, my decision had been made.

I spent a very difficult year, a year where I didn’t know what I was doing, I didn’t have much notion of what to do, where to go, how to continue. However, I knew that I had to work hard because life was very expensive and difficult there.
I started working day and night, working during the day in an architect’s office, at night with a fellow architect on joint projects, and on weekends doing my interior design projects as freelance.

I didn’t have time to think much, but at one point I realized that I had to look for a change in my life. I went to Mexico to visit family and I had the opportunity to work for a while. It was difficult too, not having friends, trying to be part of a culture that it was different from mine, but my life changed for the better.

I think that every person must be strong, know what she wants and with will, desire, energy, and working hard, we can achieve our dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: ticalevyart.com & ticalevydesign.com
• Instagram: ticalevyart
• Facebook: Tica Levy ART
• Linkedin: Tica Levy
• Twitter: Tica Levy