We were lucky to catch up with Gina Gaiser recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Growing up, my parents, both first-generation college students who pursued advanced degrees, instilled in me the importance of continuous learning and its potential for personal and professional growth. As educators, they didn’t work during the summer months, which allowed them to take our family on journeys around the world. While, at times, it felt like we were being dragged through historical ruins, churches, and museums, the impact of these experiences became clear later when I attended college. In an art history class, I encountered a painting I had previously seen in real life. The stark difference between someone describing the painting and the actual experience of seeing it in person became vividly clear. It was at that moment that I fully appreciated the gift my parents had given me. These travels not only sparked my passion for art but also contributed to my understanding of cultural heritage and artistic expression.

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’m an Oakland, California-based artist working in photography and digital media. My work draws inspiration from everyday life, exploring how humanity reshapes landscapes, navigates environments, and builds connections. When I photograph, I seek out moments of visual significance within the often forgotten and mundane, sometimes arranging them into rhythmic sequences or patterns.

I thrive on experimentation, view technology as a collaborator, and play with various techniques and processes until I achieve the desired result. Using digital tools, I edit images into formal compositions, and create series that are like pages of a book, cells in a comic strip, or frames from a film.

My education in the arts serves as a strong foundation that I take pride in. I completed my BA in Studio Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and spent a year studying Printmaking and Art History at Il Bisonte School of Graphic Arts in Florence, Italy. After returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, I became actively involved in the Oakland arts community, co-founding the artist collective Ben Dunne Presents. I went on to earn an MFA from Mills College in Digital Media, Video, and Sculpture. Presently, I am an Artist Member of the East Bay Photo Collective, GearBox Gallery, and Manna Gallery, contributing to the vibrant arts scene in the region.

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

One lesson I had to unlearn was my traditional approach to drawing. Initially, I was taught to observe and interpret subjects realistically. While this skill had its merits, it stifled my creativity. Changing this mindset allowed me to experiment with mark making and embrace abstract forms of expression. This shift enabled me to explore new art-making methods that were less constrained by representation.

Working more intuitively, I fell into the habit of overworking my pieces, constantly adding, erasing, and revising until they became muddy and indecipherable. Breaking free from this cycle required a fundamental shift in my approach. I had to learn the value of making bold choices and having the discipline to leave them as they were, recognizing that sometimes, less is more. It still remains a challenge for me, but it has allowed me to create more striking and decisive artworks.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I can’t help but wish I had known about certain resources earlier. Learning how to be a working artist, such as making a sustainable living, exhibiting work, securing grants, and more, was a process of trial and error that wasn’t covered in my formal education. I strongly believe that a specialized Life 101 course tailored for artists, covering essential skills like framing artwork, building a portfolio, creating a website, connecting with collectors, and effective marketing, would have been incredibly beneficial.

One of my regrets is not maintaining contact with my instructors from school, particularly since many of them have recently passed away. Their mentorship and insights would have proven invaluable beyond the classroom setting. Young, emerging artists can greatly benefit from the guidance and conversations offered by those further along in their artistic careers. Networking, collaboration, and the discovery of resources through these relationships have become vital components of my artistic growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ginagaiser.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginagaiser/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginagaiser/

Image Credits
Dani Arrecis Kelly Lemm Sebastian Holland