We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Magder recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

After losing my son in 2017 I discovered short stories, song lyrics as well as the beginning of a novel. The realization that my son’s dream of becoming a writer was cut short by his untimely death was difficult for me to process. I wanted to honor him in some way, but didn’t know how.

Around that time I was attending a bereavement group. It was there that I learned I wasn’t alone. There were many others who had lost loved ones that had left behind a legacy of creative work as well. One man shared how his son had composed 18 symphonies. He had no idea what to do with them. That’s when I came up with the idea to create an online memorial gallery for people to share their loved ones’ artwork, music, and writing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I’ve worked in the arts for as long as I can remember. In addition to working creatively as a writer and independent producer, I have also facilitated programs for emerging filmmakers, actors and writers. I understand the dedication, drive and passion a creative individual possesses. Far too many creatives are never acknowledged. A lifetime’s worth of work should not be ignored or forgotten, so I created a platform to change that.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I am continually receiving emails from people thanking me for keeping their loved ones memory and work alive. That has been my inspiration.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The branding has been the most difficult part for me. I couldn’t decide whether to curate the site or to accept all the work submitted. Is it a memorial site or an art gallery? I wrestled with this from the beginning. Most of the people I had gone to for advice felt the site should be curated so I began marketing the site as a platform showcasing the work of unrecognized deceased artists. I recently changed direction. Aside from the fact that art is subjective I realized I couldn’t turn anyone away. It was more than a platform to showcase their work. It is a celebration of their life. Their stories are equally important.

Contact Info:

• Website: theArtistLives.org
• Instagram: @theartistlivesgallery
• Facebook: @theartistlivesgallery
• Twitter: @artistlivesnyc