We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabrielle Tolliver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gabrielle , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I have had to be creative in defining what it means to earn a full-time living from my creative work. When I first began my career, I believed that “making it” as an artist meant supporting yourself entirely through the sale of your creations, whether at art markets, in galleries, or by cultivating a clientele of collectors who appreciated your work. But the inconsistency of this path always gave me pause. I felt it fed into the fear that often surrounds the “starving artist” trope, an identity I was determined to avoid.

Instead, my mentors and creative community introduced me to the magic of public art. While I was familiar with murals and had often wandered through the sculpture garden in my city, I hadn’t yet grasped the significance or the full potential of this kind of work. That changed in 2018, when I began creating public art as a college student through Arts New Orleans’ youth program, the Young Artist Movement. I was immediately enamored with the process, the opportunity to collaborate with renowned local artists and to witness the community impact these projects could create.

Through this work, I fell in love with the artistic community I became a part of, and with the chance to hone my craft alongside peers. Today, I work full-time as an arts administrator, supporting various art nonprofits in New Orleans through public art installations and program development. While this role has brought me traditional financial stability, I continue to nurture my creative practice. I still paint, both in my studio and within my community, creating works that are experienced both at the scale of public art and in gallery settings.

Gabrielle , 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?

Gabrielle Tolliver: Abstract Visionary & Community Catalyst

I’m a New Orleans-born abstract artist whose vibrant, emotionally resonant work explores the intersections of identity, memory, and collective healing. Rooted in bold expression and organic forms, my practice extends beyond the studio into the heart of my community, where I strive to be a dynamic force for cultural and social impact.

I hold a BA in Visual Arts from Xavier University of Louisiana and have had the honor of exhibiting my work in prominent venues including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Newcomb Art Museum, and internationally at M.A.D.S. Art Gallery in Milan. My large-scale public works—such as the mural at the Orleans Parish Justice Center, which was featured in an Apple Super Bowl campaign—reflect my belief in art’s ability to spark dialogue and transformation in public spaces.

Deeply committed to arts-based community development, I’ve worked with organizations such as Arts New Orleans, Eternal Seeds, Studio BE, and the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. My roles have included program development, grant management, public art unveiling facilitation, event planning, community outreach, and youth mentorship. I’ve also served as a teaching artist with YAYA and the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts and am currently a proud board member of Mess Arts, a local nonprofit dedicated to nurturing emerging creative voices.

In my current role as Director of Youth Programs and Partnerships at Arts New Orleans, I channel my creative leadership into building meaningful, accessible opportunities for the next generation of artists. My work is represented by Where Y’Art Gallery, and I remain committed to creating art that challenges, connects, and inspires through a bold, compassionate lens that is uniquely my own.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

“Artists are the gatekeepers of the truth.” — Paul Robeson

This quote has been a constant hum in my creative thinking. In today’s world, I believe artists have a social responsibility to share ideas that help shape a more just and compassionate society. There is a need for artists to create a visual language that reflects their lived experiences: how they’ve navigated challenges, and how their values shine through in the face of adversity.
As a society, we must provide the space, safety, and resources for these expressions to be shared and discussed. By uplifting storytelling and artistic expression, we offer creatives the platform to envision and build a better future, one rooted in understanding, rather than retreating into the divisions of the past.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower was a transformative call to action for me. Through the journey of Lauren, a young visionary navigating a crumbling world, I saw a reflection of our own time, marked by environmental chaos, deep inequality, and a growing disconnect from our humanity. Rather than succumbing to fear, the story challenged me to reimagine how we respond to crises, not with despair, but with compassion, knowledge, and community-rooted solutions.

The book shifted my perspective. I began to see destruction not just as an ending, but as fertile ground for renewal. Like the forest fire that makes way for new growth or the pecan trees that thrive through mutual support, Parable of the Sower taught me that healing and change must start with the individual and radiate outward. It inspired me to use my art as a tool for collective imagining, for building something new from the ashes, not alone, but together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gabrielletolliverart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbytolliverart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-tolliver-63449620a/