We recently connected with Pamela Nigro and have shared our conversation below.

Pamela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always been a creative person. I tap danced around art by singing professionally off-off Broadway and being a Cosmetologist, among other creative endeavors. About 10 years ago I decided I wanted to paint and although I had no training or prior experience, I decided I wasn’t going to let that stop me.

After I had purchased all the supplies, I started painting that day and I’ve been painting ever since — all the while teaching myself through trial and error and “happy accidents.” When I realized I had gone as far as I could on my own, I took a few art classes here and there and that really helped to solidify my desire to become a professional artist.

Pamela, 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?

Although I’ve been a creative person all my life, my journey into the art world was unexpected and came at a time when I was questioning much of what I had accepted as my truth.

As a highly sensitive person, art has given me the opportunity to dig deep within my subconscious mind and unearth the bounty of that space visually and give a voice to the unprocessed content.

I think we actually don’t choose art… it chooses us. And if we are willing, we can become the vessel for creativity to flow through us and manifest in our physical experience. Our world is an incredible example of creative expression.
I realized that if I could get my ego out of the way and allow the creative force that animates all of life to flow through me unobstructed, then that would result in the purest expression of what my being had to offer.

What we as artists give to the world is a piece of ourselves smeared over a substrate because no matter the subject, whether it’s objective or non-objective, it still comes through our own filter.
All I can hope for as an artist is to strike a chord of resonance within the viewer and help to open them to their own truths.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I believe that most artists have a tremendous amount of resilience because rejection comes along with the territory. In order to keep creating we must move forward and that often means overcoming the opinions along with the “slings and arrows” that will inevitably at some point be thrown our way.

Because art is so subjective, I have had to develop a strong core which has allowed me to find my true North and stay in integrity with myself.
One incident at the beginning of my art journey happened at my very first show. I had actually only been painting about seven months at the time and I won the People’s Choice award which included a money prize.

The person in charge made such derogatory comments as he gave me my winnings that I went home deflated and unable to truly enjoy my victory. When I realized what I had allowed this person to do, I made up my mind that I would prove him wrong and become a tremendous success. I could have allowed his words to destroy my dream but instead I used them to propel me forward.

That incident was 10 years ago, and since then I’ve never lost track of my goal. I put my intention for my art in writing and I look at it every day to keep me on track. This year (2022) I have already been juried into 4 International Exhibitions along with 3 regional shows, recognized twice by the International Bold Brush Fav 15% Competition, Juried into the oldest organization for Women Artists, NAWA, Hardedger magazine, and now Canval Rebel — and I’m not done yet!

We can take what appears to be a negative and use it to our advantage. I always ask myself when I feel overwhelmed “Who won the race… the tortoise or the hare?” The road to success is staying on the path and putting one foot in front of the other until we reach our goal, no matter what obstacles seemingly stand in our way.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Chaos often proceeds great change. I believe humankind is on the verge of making an evolutionary jump from Homo Sapiens to Homo Universalis.
My latest ongoing series of the same name explores that idea with ancient and modern cultural symbols. In order for a symbol to be relevant there must be agreement on its meaning within the culture. In these times of great polarization, finding things we agree upon can perhaps help to mend the fabric of our society.

The culmination of the Homo Universalis series will be a new symbol representing humankind’s evolutionary jump. My goal with this series and all of my art is to heal, stimulate discussion, open new avenues of thought, and give the viewer a profoundly moving experience.

I believe art can lead us back to ourselves and reconnect us on a primal level. It is one of the ingredients in the primordial soup of life that feeds us, sustains us, heals us, and I believe… will ultimately save us.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: pamelanigroart
• Twitter: pamelanigroart