We were lucky to catch up with Brittany Vogel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve created to date was an interactive mural at the Columbus Circle Subway Station in New York City.

Commissioned by the Turnstyle Underground Market, I was invited to paint the mural live on-site so that the 90,000 daily commuters passing through could witness the creative process unfold in real time. I saw it as a rare opportunity to engage with the public through art—and to make a powerful statement.

I chose to create a piece titled ‘Suffragists Marching’, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The mural, a bold and expressive black-and-white line drawing spanning 12 feet wide and 7 feet tall, depicted a procession of women marching for their right to vote. I drew the figures freehand, embracing a raw, emotive style that emphasized movement and strength.

To make the experience interactive, I included protest signs that viewers could hold and pose with—inviting them to stand in solidarity with the suffragists and reflect on their own power to create change. The message was simple yet profound: every one of us can make a difference.

At the heart of the mural was a woman based on an old photograph of my great-grandmother as a young woman. While I don’t know whether she was a suffragist, I imagined she would have been—given her remarkable accomplishments.

As someone who deeply believes in voting rights, the opportunity to spark inspiration and civic reflection in such a prominent public space—during an election year, no less—was deeply meaningful. This mural was not just a tribute to history, but a bridge to the present, inviting everyone who passed by to consider their own voice, their own agency, and the legacy they want to carry forward.

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 back background and context?

It might surprise you to learn that before becoming a full-time artist, I actually started my career as a corporate salesperson at IBM. Later, I transitioned into brand management for consumer-packaged goods after earning my MBA from NYU. For years, I thrived in the corporate world—until life took me in a new direction.

When I stepped away from my business career to become a full-time mother and artist, it stirred a lot of complex emotions. There was pride and purpose, but also internal conflict. That tension—the push and pull between seemingly opposing identities—has become a central theme in my work. Much of my art explores this interplay of oppositional forces, creating layered spaces where contrast ultimately finds balance.

I studied art for over a decade as a Junior Associate at the Museum of Modern Art and honed my studio practice at the Art Students League of New York, where I was honored with the Merit Scholarship in 2019. Over the years, my work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions across New York City, and I’ve even had the privilege of seeing it showcased on the cover of exhibition brochures.

In the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to bring my work into some truly meaningful spaces—like the 12-foot-wide interactive mural I created at the Columbus Circle Subway Station, where thousands passed by each day. I’ve given artist talks with institutions like the Bruce Museum and the Hoboken Historical Museum, and I’ve mounted solo exhibitions of my Powerful Women and Order vs. Chaos series across NYC and New Jersey. My work has also been juried into the Monmouth Museum’s Annual Exhibitions for three consecutive years.

These projects have garnered media attention, including coverage in Yahoo! News, TAPinto, Hmag, and 07030 Magazine. But more than the press or accolades, what continues to drive me is the opportunity to inspire others—to create art that invites conversation, sparks confidence, and offers moments of reflection in our everyday lives.

I create abstract paintings and portraits of Powerful Women—works that are layered, textured, and deeply symbolic. Each piece is built with multiple layers of paint, reflecting the richness and complexity of life’s small and grand moments. I want my art to spark energy, inspire joy, and empower those who experience it—helping viewers carry that feeling into their daily lives.

Whether you’re looking for a bold statement piece or a small daily reminder of strength, I offer Originals, Prints, and Gift Shop Merchandise featuring my work. With multiple price points, there are accessible and meaningful ways for everyone to bring empowering art into their space.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The biggest pivot I’ve made in my life—and there have been many—was leaving my corporate career to become a full-time mother and, eventually, an artist.

I had worked incredibly hard to build a successful career in the corporate world. I earned top sales awards and completed my MBA from NYU while working full-time, eventually landing my dream role in brand management within the consumer packaged goods industry.

But everything changed when my first son arrived two months premature. I was expected to return to work just six weeks after his birth—before his original due date had even arrived. Although I was able to delay my return, it quickly became clear that his health needs in that first year simply didn’t align with the demanding 10- to 12-hour workdays typical of my role. My husband traveled frequently for work, and I found myself on call around the clock—as both mother and nurse. It was exhausting, and something had to give.

As my son’s health gradually improved, I was fortunate to carve out two mornings a week to attend classes at the Art Students League of New York. It became a sanctuary—a space just for me. I felt inspired, energized, and surrounded by a creative community that deeply nourished me. Those mornings at the League sparked something within me, slowly building both my artistic skills and, more importantly, the confidence to see myself as an artist.

That shift—from corporate strategist to full-time artist—wasn’t planned, but it became one of the most meaningful transformations of my life. It was a journey filled with both vulnerability and strength, and it continues to shape the work I create today.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My artwork is fueled by a deep desire to energize, empower, and uplift. I create pieces that I want to live with—art that brings joy, vitality, and a sense of purpose into a space.

I’ve always believed that our environment shapes our energy. So when I paint, I’m not just thinking about aesthetics—I’m thinking about how a piece will make someone feel when they live with it day after day. I start by creating for myself first, trusting that what inspires and energizes me will also resonate with others.

In my abstract paintings, color takes center stage. I choose combinations that spark joy and movement—colors that play off one another to create vibrancy and momentum. These pieces are rich with layers, so there’s always something new to discover. Even after months or years, viewers tell me they continue to find details they hadn’t noticed before. That sense of discovery invites people to slow down, explore, and get lost in the painting. Yet from across the room, the work still holds a strong, cohesive composition—anchoring the space and creating a powerful focal point.

My Powerful Women series was born out of a personal frustration: I realized how little I’d been taught in school about the incredible women who shaped our world. I wanted to change that—not just for myself, but for others. So I started painting portraits of women from history whose stories deserve to be told and celebrated. Each background is a visual collage—a layered, symbolic history of that woman’s life, capturing both her achievements and the barriers she overcame. The woman is painted in my unique expressive line drawing technique, giving her a powerful center stage in the painting.

These works have become a source of strength for me personally. When I look at them, I’m reminded of the courage and resilience these women embodied. It puts my own fears and doubts into perspective. If they could persist through what they faced, then so can I.

Ultimately, that’s what I hope my art offers—a sense of connection, power, and possibility. Whether it’s a bold abstract piece or a tribute to a trailblazing woman, each painting is an invitation to feel more alive, more confident, and more inspired in your own space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.BrittanyVogelArt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BrittanyVogelArt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrittanyVogelArt