We were lucky to catch up with Maryam Salk recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maryam thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

From a young age, I’ve always aspired to pursue a non-traditional career path. My heart was drawn to the art world, particularly painting, fashion, and design. When I was young, I was lucky enough to have the privilege of traveling and experiencing diverse, incredible works of art firsthand. In particular, seeing the works of Matisse and Picasso as a child sparked a creative fire within me. As I got older, I never lost that spark and committed myself to living and working as an artist.

For me, there’s something profoundly thrilling about the act of creating, and it doesn’t matter if it comes from complicated watercolors or abstract doodles. The creative process not only brings me immense joy; it also imparts a sense of inner peace, an almost meditative state. Getting lost in the flow of artistic expression is something I both crave and cherish deeply.

For women of my generation, I’ve often felt and observed a huge societal expectation to immerse yourself in “the grind” – to pursue corporate careers that align with more traditionally masculine roles. And lots of women excel at the conventional career path, which is amazing! For myself, it was never something I wanted to do, and I firmly believe that you should never compromise on your true calling simply because society tells you to prioritize something different.

My journey in the arts was shaped by a few amazing and, at times, demanding art instructors during my secondary school years. They saw potential in me and pushed me to stretch my creative boundaries. Their unwavering belief in my abilities provided a sense of validation at a time when I felt overwhelming external pressure to focus on STEM fields and be “serious.”

Being taken seriously as an artist even when I was young, I felt a sense of profound empowerment. I’ve come to understand that real fulfillment comes from pursuing what you genuinely love, even if it means diverging from the expected path.

In embracing my identity as an artist, I’ve learned the importance of staying true to oneself, especially as a woman, and not succumbing to societal expectations. Through that lens, I can reflect on my creative journey not only as a personal pursuit, but also as a testament to the potential for self-discovery and fulfillment that lies within all of us.

Maryam, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a collage artist and painter, from Dubai originally, and now living and working in Los Angeles. I’ve been creating collage artworks for around ten years, and began to paint seriously while I was getting my Interior Design degree at FIDM in LA. My experience growing up in Dubai is a significant influence. Dubai carries a striking juxtaposition of history and modernity, and its rich colours and textures are a big part of both my life and my work. I also draw a lot of inspiration from natural beauty — from my travels, the ocean, flowers — the world is full of all these beautiful, ephemeral things that influence and shape my art. I have synesthesia, too, so when I’m painting I draw on the colours and forms I hear and feel while listening to music.

I especially love combining the aesthetics of natural beauty with a specific sense of nostalgia that I capture through collage, which allows me to interact with the past. Vintage magazines from the 70s, 80s, and 90s provide inspiring source materials; I find myself drawn to the captivating imagery and glamour of those decades. These bygone eras are eternally present and preserved in the magazine photographs, and I enjoy taking what was once tucked away and forgotten and giving it new life through my art. It’s a very gratifying experience, breathing new vitality into these images and, in a sense, resurrecting them from obscurity.

Apart from my available pieces, I occasionally do commission work as well. Feel free to send my studio an email and we will get back to you!

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I think it’s great for some artists! It’s not for me, however. I feel like purely digital art doesn’t translate the same as seeing a piece in person. That’s not to say there aren’t artists making great digital art pieces, but for me it’s more difficult to get a true sense of a piece from a place like Instagram.

I’d rather get out and see the works in person. There are tones, textures, and subtleties that can only be fully appreciated in a physical encounter with a piece of art, and the tangible beauty of life is less present in a digital format. NFTs are a great way to collect digital art, but beyond that they just don’t have the same impact as a physical work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It’s incredibly rewarding to see the genuine joy I can bring to people’s lives through a piece of art. Whether I’m selling a painting, creating a new work for someone, or even just observing people viewing a piece in person — watching how it makes them think, makes them feel, makes them remember. I like when my pieces have a teleportation-like affect, where everyone sees something different, and it’s really fulfilling to see that happen to people and talk with them about it.

I also have to say that I love having flexibility to structure my life and my work the way that I want. I’ve never been someone who likes every day to follow a rigid schedule, and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to pursue my art in a way that works for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: maryamsalk.com
• Instagram: @maryamsalk.art
• Email: [email protected]