We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabriela Klerian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gabriela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
An invaluable lesson I’ve carried with me from my prior job is the importance of trying to understand people from different perspectives. As a visual artist who creates commissioned pieces for various collectors, this lesson plays a central role in my creative process. Working on these pieces is not easy work. It demands collaboration, communication, creativity, and a full understanding of the client’s vision.
My approach begins with a deep dive into comprehending what the client wants, what they expect, and any specific requirements they may have. It’s not only about what they want visually; it’s about understanding the essence of their concept. This demands active listening and questioning to ensure I capture all aspects of their vision as much as possible. My goal as an artist is meet their needs and go beyond their expectations, but also make sure that the artwork resonates on a profound level.
Prior to my current role as a visual artist, I spent fourteen years at an innovation consulting firm, where I had the privilege of working on diverse projects across various industries, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.
For a specific project we were tasked with improving the user experience of a brand of high-end kitchen appliances that was not showing engagement from its users. Our team was determined to turn it around. We quickly realized that gathering data on what users “do” and “use” was only the tip of the iceberg. As we explored deeper into the user experience, and they started describing their feelings related to their appliances, the responses were eye-opening. The brand had basically failed to understand their customers’ needs and preferences, which had a profound impact on their loyalty. This experience made me realize that their emotional state and thought process would allow us to get deeper insights into our users’ motivations, pain points, and desires, if we wanted to make significant improvements to the user experience.
Today, I carry this lesson with me into my artistic practice. I understand that effective communication, flexibility, and commitment to delivering artwork that is both visually and emotionally captivating are essential to my creative process. Just as I learned to understand users from different perspectives in my previous job, I now strive to understand my clients’ visions from every angle, resulting in art that speaks to both the functional and emotional needs of those who commission it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I set foot in the world of visual art driven by a passion for creative expression. From a young age, I always found a way to shape my ideas into tangible work. Eventually I pursued formal art training, I sharpened my skills, experimented with various mediums, and deepened my understanding of artistic techniques.
My creative journey has been full of exploration. I’ve worked with different artistic forms, including painting, print-making and mixed media. This versatility has allowed me to make tailor-made pieces for my clients and bring a wide range of artistic visions to life.
What distinguishes me as an artist is my commitment to depth, meaning, and emotion in all my pieces. My work is not only about aesthetics; it’s about storytelling and evoking a powerful response. I take the time to understand the concept, vision and emotions of each piece, ensuring that the art I produce talks about me, but allows others to identify with it.
I believe aesthetic pieces can be found in many places, but art is not about how it looks, it is about how it makes you feel, what it tells you about yourself. My art is about building emotional connections, not only capturing the eye but also touching the heart.
When it comes down to commissioned projects, custom-made art pieces for specific spaces, I view each project as a collaboration between the client and myself. Your vision is my canvas, and I’m dedicated to bringing it to life in a way that exceeds your expectations. Whether you seek a one-of-a-kind piece for your home, a unique gift, or artwork for a corporate space, I’ll make sure my creations are aligned to your specific needs and preferences. Each piece is meticulously crafted with quality and attention to detail.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Three years ago, I made the bold move from New York City to embrace a new chapter of my life in the heart of Texas. It was a leap into the unknown, but I’ve come to absolutely treasure this fresh start.
However, it was while I was living in NYC, when COVID-19 hit and everything hit a pause, that life threw me an unexpected lifeline – a chance to renew my love for painting.
What started as a leisure interest soon became a purpose on its own. Painting became more than just a pastime. It became my daily escape, a way to find comfort within the chaos, and a means to channel my emotions onto the canvas. It kept me focused, engaged, and hopeful during those uncertain times.
In each piece, I found a way to express myself. When the world outside felt gloomy, my artwork reminded me that there was still beauty to be created and appreciated.
As the resilient spirit of New York City gradually came back to life, I had found the power of art to heal, uplift, and inspire. Life had, in its own unexpected way, given me a chance to restart my painting journey, and I was grateful that this kept me going through the most challenging of times.
Bringing my renewed passion for painting to Texas has been an exciting adventure. This state has added a whole new dimension to my art. Its art scene and welcoming community of artists have provided inspiration and enriching experiences.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is imagining you have kind of a superpower that allows you to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. That’s what feels like for me to be a visual artist.
There are endless possibilities. Painting for me is a bit like having a secret code to transform the language of feelings and translate them into colors and shapes.
But the real magic happens when others connect with my work. When someone looks at my artwork and smiles, or feels a sense of wonder, it’s like sharing a piece of my soul with them. It’s an amazing feeling to know that I’ve added a splash of color and joy to their day, simply by expressing my own inner world.
So for me, the most rewarding part of being a visual artist is the joy of creation, the power to tell stories without words, and the gift of connecting with people on a profound and emotional level through my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studioklerian.com
- Instagram: @STUDIOKLERIAN
- Other: www.ardestgallery.com @ardestgallery