We were lucky to catch up with Mila Sketch recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mila, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

The beauty of Scandinavian nature impacted my early imagination. I wanted to paint what I saw around me. I dreamed of becoming an artist as early as I could remember. I entered a regional art competition at nine, and my work “Halt in the Arctic.” won a regional art award and is now permanently placed in the Murmansk Regional Art Museum. I was reassured by my first success, even though my parents were against my dream. They insisted I pursue academic studies and science before approaching art full-time. The fight with my parents was ongoing throughout my childhood, and even today, they sometimes question my career choice.

Mila, 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?

Nearly a decade ago, I made Austin, Texas, my new home. While often commissioned for public art projects in other states and countries, Texas is my artistic hub. In 2016, while still new to Central Texas, I collaborated with Ride Austin, resulting in my highly recognizable work “Howdy Austin.” Already an accomplished visual artist at that time, I threw myself into my work and haven’t slowed down since. Nine awards, numerous exhibitions, and countless public and corporate commissions later, my art remains unique and my work prolific.
By 2018, passengers flowing into the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were being welcomed to Central Texas by my “Urban Art Project,” murals that juxtapose the intricate landscapes of urban development and nature in Central Texas. My exploration of the relationship between technology and nature is present in much of my work, including a hard-to-find mural in Pasadena, Texas. In this piece, “Revive/Revival,” viewers may be startled to realize artificial beauty in the Houston Ship Channel, sitting side-by-side with the same natural beauty that was always there. As cities worldwide have increasingly sought public art in their community spaces, I’ve continued to crisscross around different states to impact art lovers and those who least expect to be affected by art.

My artistic philosophy connects historical events to present reality through various intricate symbols that appeal to a viewer of any cultural background. I love to show the whole through the myriad of intricate joint details. My artwork series “Bags” (2008- present) tells a mesmerizing story of modern people and their lives. Selected artworks from this series were exhibited in the CICA Museum in Seoul, S. Korea, in March 2020.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC, and Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA, acquired my work in the past.

The most recent highlights in my artistic career include an international mural project in Angers, France, a successful showcase in Art Miami 2021, and the NFT Exhibition «[IN]tngible Futures: Women at the Forefront» at West Chelsea Contemporary, New York, in 2022. In 2023, my mural was added to the Disney Springs Art Walk: A Canvas of Expression collection.

My fine art paintings increasingly utilize augmented reality, and the most intricate images begin to move and dance before you. But with or without AR, I love watching other people visually comb through my work. It’s simply hard for people to look away. My art makes people think, explore, and feel deeply about the themes in her work and often the viewer’s community. So many people and their communities have been impacted by my work, and I still have so much more to give.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Not being a native English speaker, I enjoy communicating through a universal set of symbols visually expressed in my art. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a visual artist is to reach communities that may not be exposed to art daily through public art murals. During the mural installation, I met many interesting and kind local people who gave me direct feedback on my creation. I always learn something new from it.
Art allows me to travel and work in places most people don’t want to visit. I often get to create in underrepresented communities. They trust me to tell their story and carry their pride through art. I love doing that.

Another incredible aspect of being an artist is bringing attention to important social topics of our time. In my art, I study the correlation between Nature & technology, sustainable urban development, and many others.

I love to surprise my viewers with fun additions to my paintings, such as Augmented Reality. I have a free MilaSketch App that anyone can access the AR with. You can now play with “STOP” & “Do not Enter” road signs. Open my app and point at it anywhere in the US to access cool animation with sound.

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 a brilliant idea and platform for artists, especially for 3D creators, photographers, and video gamers. It is an alternative way to show your authentic art with an opportunity to grow its value. I have a few NFTs that can be viewed and purchased on the MintGoldDust platform. But it’s not the main focus of my creation at the moment.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mila_sketch
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artmilasketch
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/milasketch
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/milasketch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@milasketch
• Other: https://www.mintgolddust.com/profile/0xDFE840BFEfCdEF167a9e037c905ADD68D4f055DD/created