Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ari Fouse. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ari, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I earned my BFA in Painting at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where I ultimately had two prominent experiences that shaped my artwork.

The first was my Study Abroad semester in Venice, Italy with the Pratt in Venice 2019 program. I spent six weeks in Venice, taking painting and art history classes. That first day I spent in the Guidecca studio is when my “Water-bound” series began. I just naturally began making these small, abstract paintings of water, purely on instinct. At this time, I was right in the middle of my college experience and was trying to decide who I wanted to be as an artist. As soon as I made those paintings, that was it for me. I knew what kind of work I wanted to make, from that point on. I made four small paintings and 1 lithograph in direct response to my time in Venice, and all 5 of those pieces sold when I got back to New York. It was a sign to me that my work was heading in the right direction.

The second experience was in 2021, during my Independent Study with multimedia artist, Alexis Karl. This was right in the middle of Covid, and there weren’t many people on campus. I had taken an “Art of Scent” class with Alexis in 2019 and was introduced to the idea of using fragrance and audio to enhance the experience of viewing a painting. So during my Independent Study, I created several installations in empty studio spaces on campus, transforming the room into a multi-sensory exhibition of paintings, sculptures, fragrances, and soundscapes. Working with Alexis really allowed me to explore other mediums and ways I could combine those mediums with my paintings.

My dream is to have an exhibition of the “Water-bound” paintings alongside custom fragrances and soundscapes that correspond with each unique piece.

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

I am an abstract painter, and I primarily work with oil paint, metal leaf, and loose pigments. I use imagery from the sky and the sea to investigate abstraction, capturing the inherent beauty and mystery of nature and our environment. My work serves as an invitation to pause, reflect, and rediscover the harmony that exists when we align ourselves with the vast, endless expanse of the world around us.

My paintings are all about looking within and reflecting on our surroundings. I like that my work is very abstract at first glance. However, the longer you look at one of my paintings, the more you begin to recognize pieces of it as something you perhaps have seen before. Certain forms start to feel familiar, other areas are left quite vague and ambiguous. I find that the act of investigating a painting is very similar to the act of investigating one’s innermost self.

I believe that there is a secret energy that connects all Life, an underlying harmony that resonates throughout the natural world. By observing and depicting these moments in my art, I invite viewers to tap into that energy and forge a deeper connection with themselves and the Earth.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part about being an artist is the connection you make with people that enjoy your work. Art is meant to enhance your life, and it has the power to transform how you’re feeling. It’s an honor to be able to make something that brings beauty and joy into people’s lives.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The first book that really impacted my thinking as an artist was gifted to me by my mother right before I went off to college — “Art & Fear” by David Bayles and Ted Orland. It’s all about what it’s like being an artist and how difficult it is to actually make art. It addresses a lot of those early-career worries and insecurities you have as a young artist that really doesn’t know what they’re doing yet.

“Bluets” by Maggie Nelson is another good one. It’s a collection of poems all about the color blue, which is my absolute favorite pigment to mix and work with. There’s something magical about rich, velvety shades of blue that I can’t get enough of.

Lastly, “A Natural History of the Senses” by Diane Ackerman is a fascinating read that investigates the ways in which we experience the world through each of our five senses. It’s written beautifully and helped inform some of my work that combines visual art with other sensory mediums, like sound and fragrance.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arifouse.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: @arifouseart

Image Credits

All images courtesy of the artist.