We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Carrig. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on has been using my art and creative platform to help stray and abandoned cats. For me, this work is meaningful because it brings together two things I care deeply about: creativity and compassion.

This started about two years ago when a stray cat visited my house and decided not to leave. We quickly saw how the cat, who I named Gimlet for his piercing eyes (and claws), added so much to our lives. I couldn’t understand how anyone could abandon him.

A few months later, I was driving one night when I spotted a kitten on the side of the road. I pulled over without even thinking, and she ran straight into my hands. I named her Juju.

These experiences made me realize how many animals, especially cats, are in need.

I’ve been working with a local community initiative focused on trapping stray cats at Furman University so they can be vetted, rehabilitated, and rehomed. So far, we’ve trapped and helped rehome four cats over the last 3 months. Even though that number may sound small to some people, when you are the one witnessing these animals go from living outside without safety or medical care to finally being seen, cared for, and placed in loving homes, it makes a huge difference.

Part of what makes this work so urgent is how quickly the problem can grow. The ASPCA notes that, in real-world conditions, one unspayed female cat can result in approximately 100 to 400 cats over time, which shows how much impact spay and neuter efforts can have. I’m not someone who likes to sit by and wait for others to do something about a problem. As an artist, I started looking for ways my work could do more than just create something beautiful.

That led me to start Creators 4 Cats, an initiative that raises awareness and funds through cat-inspired artwork by artists. I’ve also hosted events called Pastel Your Pet, where a percentage of proceeds goes toward spay/neuter efforts as well as supporting this rescue work.

What makes this project especially meaningful is that it helps cats who are so often overlooked. Through art, community, and small acts of care, we’re able to change the course of their lives. I’ve also met many wonderful people in my local community and online who also care about this project. That has shown me that creativity can be more than self-expression; it can be a tool for healing, connection, and real change.

Emily, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an artist, creative entrepreneur, and founder of projects that sit at the intersection of fine art, online community, and real-world impact. My background is in fine art and art history, with a specialization in oil painting and pastel. My work often focuses on the human figure, animal subjects, and occasionally landscapes, and I earned my MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art.

My work has grown in a way that’s very personal to me because it hasn’t come from following a conventional path. It’s come from trying to connect the things I care most about and build something meaningful from them.

A throughline in everything I do is community. I’m deeply interested in how creativity can bring people together, help people express who they are, and even support causes that matter. That’s part of why my work has grown in several connected directions. I create art, including animal-inspired work, and I’ve also started projects like Creators 4 Cats, which uses art to raise awareness and support cat rescue efforts. I host Pastel Your Pet events, where a portion of proceeds goes toward spay/neuter initiatives and rescue work, and I’ve worked with a local trapping initiative helping stray cats at Furman University.

I’m also building True Stars, a community project centered on creative entrepreneurs, artists, and founders who are building something original at the intersection of art and technology. One of our goals is to launch a podcast featuring conversations with people who are creating their own path in unique ways, especially those exploring emerging tools, new media, and more visionary approaches to creative work and business.

What I’m most proud of is finding ways to use creativity in service of both expression and impact. I want people to know that my work is about more than craft and aesthetics. It’s connection, creating a dialogue and building communities around things that matter.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my social media audience on Twitter and LinkedIn during the 2021–2022 NFT boom. As I learned more about NFTs and the broader ideas behind decentralization, I became more interested in the ways web3 tools can challenge traditional systems, especially by giving artists more ownership and control over their work.

As I educated myself on these topics, I began sharing my perspective on social media, which gained traction with audiences in the business and tech worlds. Even though the NFT market has cooled, it led to many meaningful long-term connections both within the industry and beyond.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice

I believe that NFTs are a revolutionary tool, whether you are skeptical of them or not.

At their best, they can give artists (especially digital artists) and creators more ownership, provenance, direct connection to collectors, and new ways to build community around their work. That’s the part I still find compelling, especially the idea that artists don’t always have to rely on traditional gatekeepers to monetize or distribute what they make.

At their worst, NFT culture became associated by hype, speculation, and people chasing quick money. That distorted the public perception and dominated a lot of the more interesting possibilities.

My view is that the first wave was unsustainable, but the underlying ideas still matter.

So I’m neither blindly bullish nor dismissive. I think we can learn something from the last NFT cycle. There’s still something valuable there when the technology is used thoughtfully and in a way that actually supports creators and community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emilycarrig.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilycarrig.art
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-carrig/
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/emilycarrig
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@truestarsmedia
• Other: For more about True Stars upcoming podcast launch and Creators 4 Cats:
  www.truestars.media
  https://linktr.ee/creators4cats

Image Credits

Studio portrait by Margarita Corporan